Excel chokes when launched, tries to open multiple files

[CeeDee]

Hi All -

My problem is similar but not identical to some of the posts. I'm
running 10.1.9 on a G5 using 10.4.8.

When I launch, or try to launch Excel, it attempts to open documents
from other programs (pdf, text, jpegs) which triggers various alerts
ranging from "does not recognize format" to just plain "cannot open."
Open windows cascade down the desktop until eventually there's a
message that there is not enough memory.

Here's the bad part: I trashed that .plist and since I can't launch
the program, it hasn't reconstructed itself the way prefs have been
doing for years.

I guess there's nothing to do but reinstall. Sigh. If anyone has a
suggestion I'm all ears! Thanks in advance.

CD

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I guess there's nothing to do but reinstall. Sigh. If anyone has a
suggestion I'm all ears! Thanks in advance.

First, reinstalling probably won't work - it almost never does with Mac
programs, and rarely does with Windows apps. If it DOES work, it's
probably because either (a) all those files are in your

HD:Applications:Microsoft Office X:Office:Startup:Excel

folder and you'll delete all those files, or (b) they're in a folder
that was designated as the Alternate Startup folder in
Preferences/General. The latter case will only be effective if you also
trash the preferences (the best way: run the Remove Office application).

I don't know which "that .plist" you trashed - the

~:Libraryreferences:com.microsoft.Excel.plist

file only keeps track of window sizes/positions, etc. The actual
preferences are in the

~:Libraryreferences:Microsoft:com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist

file. You must trash it with XL closed, or XL will rewrite the bad
information to a new c.m.E.prefs.plist file when it closes.