there was a problem sending the command to the program

[cummingm1]

I am running windows 7 and Office Home and student 2007 my PC has myself and my wife as 2 users, when I double click a word or excel document it will open up the document in the appropriate package. However if we try the same on my wifes account I get "there was a problem sending the command to the program", the package opens but not the file?

 

[DanRex]

Alright, so does this happen on both Excel & Word, Right?
Here's what I would suggest:
Try bringing up the Excel options, go to advanced and then scroll down to the
"General" section. Make sure that "Ignore other applications that use
Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)" is not checked. Now close Excel and open the document again.
Hope this helps!

 

[cummingm1]

Thanks Dan, tried that still the same Mike

 

[DanRex]

Try with this Microsoft FixIt... http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9785450
Gotta do a little research!

 

[cummingm1]

Thanks Dan that not work either

 

[DanRex]

Doing some research. Trying to come up with a new suggestion soon!

 

[Slartybart]

Here are a few suggestions from Microsoft boards. Try the easy one (compat) first.
Backup your registry before trying the 2nd suggestion.
Good luck!

From MS Social Technet

Try this then (which worked for me--none of the previous ideas worked).

I;m using excel 2002 and win 7. So when you right click on the excel.exe file in the office 10 folder, go to properties and then run in compatibility mode tab, click on 'windows 7' and exit.

My excel files now open properly with NO "There is a problem sending the command to the program error."

• Proposed As Answer by Gus Sanchez Monday, January 02, 2012 4:46 AM
• Marked As Answer by David WoltersMicrosoft Contingent Staff, Moderator Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:59 PM

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From MS Answers

ok, just because i don't have the petiance to wait for you to answer to my first question about which excel version you'r using i'll just give my solution for all the people who have w7 and office 2007:
the solution involves making little changes in the registry so i recommend making back up for just in case:
strart - run - regedit:
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/commend:
Right column {adding (space)"%1"}
Double Click on (Default) and write - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (commend2).
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/ddeexec:
Right Click on the folder ddeexec and choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (ddeexec2)
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.12/shell/Open/commend:
Right column {adding (space)"%1"}
Double Click on (Default) and write -"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (commend2).
no restart needed
Have Fun
hope i helped

 

[Dave92014]

there was a problem sending the command to the program - solved

After I reinstalled Windows, I had the "there was a problem sending the command to the program" when I chose the Textpad.exe program as the default to view .txt files. I solved the problem by changing the Windows User Account Control (UAC) slider to the next to lowest security setting. I am using Win7 64 bit Home Premium. To find how to change the UAC, ciick the start globe in the lower left corner of the desktop, then click "help and support" and enter "change UAC" in the search box.

 

[Shimshom]

Do both you and your wife's accounts have admin rights or is one of them a standard account. When installing Office were both accounts already created and did you install it for all users. Have you tried in your wife's account to right click the document and run it as administrator