Word 2010 - Cannot edit embedded excel tables after closing document

Anonymous
2010-09-07T12:14:32+00:00

Hi folks

I recently upgraded from Office 2007 to Office 2010. My system is a acer 6593 laptop running Windows 7 Professional with 4GB ram (3GB usable by windows)

I have an issue with Word 2010 and embedded excel tables. I am able to create a word document and insert the excel table therein (using insert-> table -> excel speadsheet). I am also able to edit the table onc created, and manipulate it. However, as soon as I save and close the word document, I am no longer able to edit (or convert for that matter) the excel object.

The error message given is "The program used to create this object is Excel. That program is either not installed on your computer or it is not responding. To edit this object, install Excel or ensure that any dialog boxes in Excel are closed"

I have tried to completely repair and un-install office 2010, as well as running a cleanup tool to ensure the un-install was completely removed.

The created word document excel tables are editable in other people office 2007 installations. (there is no-one esle with office 2010 for me to try). so I am unsure whether it an issue with my specific office instalation or office 2010 in general.

As I say, the office 2007 trick of converting to a excel binary file does not work, giving an error massage*"the server application, source file, or item cannot be found. make sure the application is properly installed, and that is has not been deleted, moved, renamed, or blocked by policy".*

Also, although I cannot edit existing excel tables, I am able to add new ones to the word document and edit them, again until I save and close.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2011-07-17T22:42:35+00:00

I was experiencing this issue in Word 2010.

I was able to fix it by disabling all COM Add-ins in Excel 2010. I only had the one add-in, another system on our network had multiple add-ins. (for instructions on disabling the add-ins see below)

Close word, and open a blank Excel worksheet. In Excel go to file>options>add-ins. Then down the bottom select COM Add-ins from the drop down menu and hit go. Uncheck everything hit ok. Close the options menu close Excel. Now open your word document and try to edit your embedded files. They should now work without a problem.

I make no promises, but this worked for me :)

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-10-08T09:21:20+00:00

    holding down CTRL when opening a word documents (Keep it down for a while) will result in WORD prompting you for whether you want it to run in safe mode or not. Does it make a difference? Sadly, not at all! All rather irritating! Having to dash from one side of the office to another just to edit the flaming embedded excel tables. ARGH!

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-09-17T07:12:37+00:00

    Thanks again for the reply. I'm sure there is a way to run office in safe mode. I'll try that and see if reveals anything. Hopefully it will disable the add-ins

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-17T06:40:42+00:00

    Hi Belix

    I recommend you remove the "Answer" mark that Microsoft Support put on my previous reply. Otherwise, "they" won't see it anymore, so you won't get any further follow-up.

    FWIW (and I do hope Microsoft Support actually reads this) the key to figuring this out would be to be able to start Windows in Safe Mode, then load Word, which is apparently NOT possible.

    The only other thing I can recommend to you, but I'm not enough of a Windows expert to give you exact steps, is to (temporarily) disable everything in the way of document management and anti-virus software you have running, to see if that makes a difference. If it does, you can localize the "culprit".

    Mmm, on-rereading... The other possibility is that you have some add-in loading inExcel that's preventing access. Not sure how to test/trouble-shoot that, though. Well, I'd have an idea if I were sitting at the machine, but it's not something I feel competent to give troubleshooting steps for... Basically, it comes down to looking at what's in File/Options/Add-ins and disabling things on a trial-and-error basis.

    Cindy Meister, VSTO/Word MVP

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-09-16T19:36:03+00:00

    Sorry for delay in replying - yes i get the menu and the option to open, edit or convert. However both open and edit give the error, and converting to any of the options seems to do nothing either.

    One thing I have noticed, if I insert another excel object in the spreadsheet, it sometimes lets me edit the previously saved object...but not always. Cannot seem to find a pattern as yet, but will see if I can figure out what the key is.

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