Hi Lisa -
No criticism of you - just as info - this is a subject that has been beaten
to death since the release of SP1
If you need more thorough details a
search of any of the Mac newsgroups will provide you with more than you
might want to know.
In a nutshell what you're finding is that the file involved has been handled
- at some point in its existence - by a browser or email client that has
changed its Type to one that has not been supported for over 10 years. As a
result that Type was set in 2008 to not be recognized. Therefore,
double-clicking the file in a Finder window or on the Desktop will launch
Word if it isn't already running or will bring it to the fore is it is, but
in either case the file doesn't open.
The solution for most users - as you've already found - is to use the normal
Open File command from within Word to open the file. Having done so you need
only save the file & it will have the correct Type assigned to it & will
open by way of a double-click in Finder from that point on - unless it gets
changed again via those browsers & email clients which have not yet been
updated by their respective developers.
FYI - The same thing is true of Excel files passed along by the same
methods, but I don't believe PPt files are affected.
This page provides a bit more detail (although the wording implies that MS
is completely at fault):
http://www.grouplogic.com/knowledge/index.cfm/fuseaction/view/docID/317
HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
