I hope somebody can help me

[jvsimo1]

I have just gone from Vista to Windows 7 on a new computer, I have also installed Microsoft Works Task Launcher so that I can read my transferred info from Vista. However all my Spreadsheet Documents come up in Abode Reader and I keep getting a message, saying "Abode Reader could not open the document because it is either not a supported file, or because the file has been damaged". If I uninstall Abode Reader will that solve my problem? Or it there an easier way around the problem?

 

[Sardonicus]

Try an uninstall, first.

 

[tman69]

"all my Spreadsheet Documents"

silly question--but--is the program that created these spreadsheets installed on your new machine?

 

[jvsimo1]

p5bdkw, tried that, but no joy.

tman69, Yes I have installed Microsoft Works Task Launcher

 

[Sardonicus]

Are you using the latest version of adobe reader?
http://www.filehippo.com/download_adobe_reader/

 

[jvsimo1]

p5bdkw, as you suggested I uninstalled Abode Reader, I assume it is (was) the lastest version as my new Dell computer is only 2 weeks old

 

[jvsimo1]

p5bdkw, I have now reinstalled Abode Reader X(10.0.1), which I assume is the latest, but still no joy.

 

[Sardonicus]

jvsimo1
What's the extension on the end of the spreadsheet?

 

[jvsimo1]

Not sure what the extension is, can you repeat the question in kindergaten language as I have been around since 1940

 

[Sardonicus]

OK
At the top of the explorer, click on Organize, Folder and search options, View.
Uncheck the "Hide extensions for known file types" box.
Hit apply and OK.

If you go to where your spreadsheets are located, they should have an extension on the end.
Examples---- .rtf .exe .bak

 

[jvsimo1]

OK, I did the top part with no improvement.
The extension is XLR.
It's 4.30 pm over here and I am just about ready to go out under the Gum tree for happy hour, don't let that stop you, as I realy appreciate your help.

 

[Sardonicus]

Right click on the .xlr file.

 

[jvsimo1]

I have been through this routine a couple of times but only get the choice of Abode and Word Pad, how can I change Word Pad for Microsoft Works Spreadsheet on the "open with" window?. When I open it with word Pad I only get pages of a million Ys and symbols like a coded message.

 

[Sardonicus]

OK...
Follow the next step to see if the Microsoft Works Spreadsheet is included.
If so, select it and follow the previous steps.

If you cannot restore the file association, you should reinstall MS works.

 

[Ambimom]

Spreadsheets should have xls extensions no? If your spreadsheet extension shows "pdf" then you can manually change it as shown by p5bdkw:

At the top of the explorer, click on Organize, Folder and search options, View.
Uncheck the "Hide extensions for known file types" box.
Hit apply and OK.

Now look at your spreadsheet file again. The three letters following the period should be "xls."
[which is what Microsoft Excel spreadsheets show.] If your spreadsheet shows "pdf" or something else then carefully overwrite that extension to xls.

To be safe, I'd then go back into View Folder options (above) and check "hide known file extensions."

Adobe Reader is too intrusive, imho. Foxit Reader (and there are other open source readers too) will not take over your computer in the same way. When Adobe installed it probably associated itself with a bunch of file types.

You can manually "un-associate" Adobe from various file types by using "Open With" but first see if this will open your spreadsheet.

 

[allend66]

Ambimom - Whoa, don't get confused: Microsoft Office (Excel) spreadsheets are .xls or .xlsx but Microsoft Works is a different program - that's why the extension is, as I'm told, .xlr. And for example, an Open Office Calc file is .ods.

One workaraound is delete the file type (not the file itself!) from the folder options -> view -> file types, then when you double click the file, being as it is now unknown to Windows, you should be prompted which program to open it with. Just navigate to the install directory and it *should* open...

 

[gregrocker]

Rightclick on the Works Spreadsheet file which needs to have default Program set, select Open With.

If the Open With window is not showing Works Spreadsheet as a choice, click Browse.

Browse to the Microsoft Works Program file, select the file shown below which is the Works Spreadsheet executable, it will populate the list with Works Spreadsheet. Then highlight that choice and tick the box to have it open all files of that type with that program.

 

[Sardonicus]

Rightclick on the Works Spreadsheet file which needs to have default Program set, select Open With.

If the Open With window is not showing Works Spreadsheet as a choice, click Browse.

Browse to the Microsoft Works Program file, select the file shown below which is the Works Spreadsheet executable, it will populate the list with Works Spreadsheet. Then highlight that choice and tick the box to have it open all files of that type with that program.

Spot on!!
That should do it for him!!

 

[jvsimo1]

Thanks everybody for your advice, unfortunately nothing seemed to work, ( of course it could be me). Anyway by taking the long road and going in the back door I have had some success. Does this make sense?
Rt click the file
Click open with
Click Microsoft Task Launcher
Click Spread Sheet
Click File
Dbl Click My docs
Click required file
Click open.
I finally have the page in front of me, and click print preview and only get half the page, I think I will stick with beach fishing, any dumby can do that.

 

[jvsimo1]

In saying what I did during this adventure, I must respond and say thanks to all the people who have contributed. I think these forums are a fabulous way for people all around the World to help total strangers, and that makes us different to Big fish that eat Little fish.