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
    2010-09-07T15:39:21+00:00

    Hi Belix

    This sounds like third-party software on your machine, interfering with the OLE process (the technical thing that lets you create/edit an object from an outside application inside Word). This has been known to happen with "security" software (anti-virus) in earlier versions of Office. Can't say I've heard of it in conjunction with Office 2010, before...

    One way you could test this would be to try the reverse: insert a Word document object in an Excel spreadsheet, close, re-open and see it that is also blocked?

    Another way to test would be to boot Windows in Safe Mode (installation defaults) and see if the editing is enabled while in that mode.

    Cindy Meister, VSTO/Word MVP

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-09-10T05:44:11+00:00

    Many thanks for your reply!

    As you mentioned, I was able to insert a word object into excel and it saves and is editable without any issues. What does this mean?

    I also tried running the PC in safe mode but when in safe mode, I do not seem able to run Office 2010, as it comes up with a message along the lines that it cannot determine the licence status, and the repair has been cancelled, even though all I did was try and open word.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-10T18:59:28+00:00

    Hi Belix

    I'm pretty much out of ideas. I can see what you describe when starting Windows in Safe Mode. Things didn't use to be this way, but I guess it must have something to do with fighting pirated software. Interesting, that KB articlehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/918429 lists it as a trouble-shooting step!

    At this point, I'm at a loss as what to suggest, except that you can try manually turning off any document management and anti-virus software you have loading, then see whether it works.

    It does work here - it takes a while, but I do get the interface for editing Excel objects when I double-click.

    Mmmm, one last thing to look at: If you right-click the excel object, after opening the document, do you see a command for the Excel object listed in the Context menu? If yes, can you use Open in the sub-menu off that command?

    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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