Help and Support
 

powered byLive Search

You receive a "The command cannot be performed" error message when you double-click to open a document in Word 2007 or in Word 2003

Article ID:827732
Last Review:April 24, 2007
Revision:3.6
On This Page

SYMPTOMS

If you double-click a document (for example, in Microsoft Windows Explorer) to open the document in Microsoft Office Word 2007 or in Microsoft Office Word 2003, you may receive the following error message:
The command cannot be performed because a dialog box is open. Click "OK" and then close open dialog boxes to continue.
You do not receive this error message in Microsoft Word 2002.

Back to the top

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you have a Word template in your Startup folder that contains an autoexec macro that opens a dialog box.

Back to the top

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Open in Word

To open the document directly in Word, follow these steps.

Word 2007
1.Start Word 2007.
2.Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Open.
3.In the Open dialog box, click the document that you want, and then click Open.
Word 2003
1.Start Word 2003.
2.On the File menu, click Open.
3.In the Open dialog box, select the document that you want, and then click Open.

Back to the top

Method 2: Remove the Template from Your Startup Folder

To remove a template from your startup folder, follow these steps.
Word 2007
1.Exit Word 2007.
2.Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
3.Locate one of the following folders:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP

Note In Windows Vista, locate the folder C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\STARTUP
4.Double-click the Startup folder to open it.
5.In the right Windows Explorer pane, click to select the template that you want to remove, and then press DELETE.
Word 2003
1.Quit Word 2003.
2.Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
3.Locate one of the following folders:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup

Note In Windows Vista, locate the folder C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Startup folder
4.Double-click the Startup folder to open it.
5.In the right Windows Explorer pane, click to select the template that you want to remove, and then press the DELETE key.

Back to the top


APPLIES TO
Microsoft Office Word 2007
Microsoft Office Word 2003

Back to the top

Keywords: 
kberrmsg kbprb KB827732

Back to the top

Article Translations

 

Related Support Centers

Other Support Options

  • Need More Help?
    Contact a Support professional by E-mail, Online or Phone.
  • Customer Service
    For non-technical assistance with product purchases, subscriptions, online services, events, training courses, corporate sales, piracy issues, and more.
  • Newsgroups
    Pose a question to other users. Discussion groups and Forums about specific Microsoft products, technologies, and services.