Error message when you use Web query to a secure Web page (HTTPS://) in Excel: "Unable to open"

In Microsoft Excel, when you create a Web query from a site that uses the Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (https://), you may receive an error message that resembles the following error message: Note In this message, address is the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the secure Web page that you are trying to connect to.

This issue occurs when Excel cannot initiate a connection because of the settings on the secure Web server.

To test whether Excel is able to connect to a particular Web page, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Office Excel 2003 or in Microsoft Excel 2002, click Open on the File menu.
   
   In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Open.
2. In the File name box, type the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the secure Web page that you want to open, and then click Open.

If you cannot open the Web page, Excel cannot connect to the secure Web page, and you cannot create a Web query.