Excel Error: There was a problem sending the command to the program

Article ID: 211494 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q211494
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Symptoms



Consider the following scenario:

You double-click a Microsoft Excel workbook in Microsoft Windows Explorer

or

You double-click a short-cut to an Excel file located on your desktop or any other location

The Microsoft Excel application starts, but the Excel file does not open and you receive an error message.
The error message may be different depending on the version of Windows you are using.

In Windows 7 and Windows 8, you may see this error message:
There was a problem sending the command to the program.

In Windows Vista, you may see this error message:
Windows cannot find 'FilePath\FileName', Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

In Windows XP, you may see this error message:
Cannot find the file 'path' (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

There was a problem sending the command to the program.


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Cause

This problem may occur if the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) setting in Excel is selected.
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Resolution

To have us fix this problem for you in Excel 2003 through Excel 2013, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you would rather fix it yourself or you have a version Excel prior to 2003, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.


Fix it for me

Windows 8

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To fix this problem automatically on Excel 2003 through Excel 2013, click the Fix this problem link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in this wizard.

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Fix this problem
(http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9824906)

Microsoft Fix it 20074
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Notes:
  • This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
  • If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.
  • We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me
    (http://blogs.technet.com/fixit4me/)
    " blog or send us an email
    (mailto:fixit4me@microsoft.com?Subject=KB)
    message.

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Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003

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To fix this problem automatically on Excel 2003 through Excel 2013, click the Fix this problem link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in this wizard.

Collapse this imageExpand this image
Fix this problem
(http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9728207)

Microsoft Fix it 50392
Collapse this imageExpand this image


Notes:
  • This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
  • If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.
  • We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me
    (http://blogs.technet.com/fixit4me/)
    " blog or send us an email
    (mailto:fixit4me@microsoft.com?Subject=KB)
    message.
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Let me fix it myself

To resolve this problem yourself, follow the steps for your version of Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel 2010 and 2013

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  1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.
  2. Click Advanced, scroll down to the General section and clear the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box in the General area.
  3. Click OK

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Microsoft Excel 2007

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  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options.
  2. Click Advanced, and clear the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box in the General area.
  3. Click OK.

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Microsoft Excel 2003 or earlier versions of Excel

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  1. Click Options, on the Tools menu.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Clear the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box, and then click OK.
After you do this, you should be able to open workbooks by double-clicking them in Windows Explorer.
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More information

When you double-click an Excel workbook in Windows Explorer, a dynamic data exchange (DDE) message is sent to Excel, instructing it to open the workbook that you double-clicked.

If the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) setting is selected, Excel ignores DDE messages sent to it by other programs. As a result, the DDE message sent to Excel by Windows Explorer is ignored, and Excel does not open the workbook that you double-clicked.
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Properties

Article ID: 211494 - Last Review: February 5, 2013 - Revision: 15.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2010
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2007
  • Microsoft Excel 2013
Keywords: 
kbconfig kbopenfile kbprb kbualink97 kbfixme kbmsifixme KB211494
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