unable to excel spreadsheets created inwindows with mac excel 2008

[maria]

Every time I attempt to open an excel spreadsheet created in windows (any version), I get an error message that says the associated helper file does not exist.
Are there any settings that I need to change on mac excel 2008 to open these files?
Is there a compatibility issue with the office for mac 2008? Is there a download available to fix this problem?

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Every time I attempt to open an excel spreadsheet created in windows (any
version), I get an error message that says the associated helper file does
not exist. Are there any settings that I need to change on mac excel 2008
to open these files? Is there a compatibility issue with the office for
mac 2008? Is there a download available to fix this problem?

You can select the file in the Finder and press command-i.
In the information panel there you should be able to associate the file
to the Office application of your choice and click a button to apply the
same setting to all files with the same extension,

Corentin

 

[maria]

The problem occurs with files that I download online. I can open files already on my computer, but not ones that someone has sent me. Thanks for your help, though.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

The problem occurs with files that I download online. I can open files already
on my computer, but not ones that someone has sent me. Thanks for your help,
though.

Yes, but please explain how you are trying to open them, what version of
Excel, and what operating system. Do you get any errors? Which ones?

 

[maria]

I am using excel for mac 2008. The files that I am trying to download are through my university's online classroom and I believe the professors use Vista. I was able to open all documents prior to upgrading to office for mac 2008 last week.
When my computer attempts to download the file, an error box pops up that says "the associated helper file does not exist". There is a .xls extension on the files that I am not able to open. The professors have been saving the Vista files in the earlier version so that everyone can access them. I am also having this problem with word but not with powerpoint.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I am using excel for mac 2008. The files that I am trying to download are
through my university's online classroom and I believe the professors use
Vista. I was able to open all documents prior to upgrading to office for mac
2008 last week.
When my computer attempts to download the file, an error box pops up that
says "the associated helper file does not exist". There is a .xls extension on
the files that I am not able to open. The professors have been saving the
Vista files in the earlier version so that everyone can access them. I am also
having this problem with word but not with powerpoint.
Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Unfortunately it doesn't give me any
clues. Is it possible to send me a workbook that has this problem? I'll be
happy to take a look.