Error Opening XML Document in Excel

Asked By RichardHimmler 0 points N/A Posted on - 09/18/2011

Hey guys,

I created an XML spreadsheet in Excel last night at home. When I open this file on my work computer, I get an error.

When I click the OK button on the error message window, the file opens fine.

At home, I use Windows XP / Excel 2003 and at work I use Windows 2007 / Excel 2007.

Could this be some kind of version incompatibility issue?

See error screenshot below:

There was a problem sending the command to the program.

OK

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• Question Category: MS Excel

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Answered By Joseph09 5 points N/A #125168

Error Opening XML Document in Excel

No, compatibility is not an issue since you created the file using Excel 2003. With Excel 2007 you have what is called backward compatibility so you can open all earlier versions of Excel (97,2003) with no problems.

A compatibility issue would only arise if you created a file with your Excel 2007 and tried to open that file with your Excel 2003. As Excel 2003 cannot support Excel 2007 since it is an earlier version this is where a compatibility issue will take place.

One solution to fix this error would be to:

• First open a new file.
• Then click on the Office Button that is located on the top left of the application, click on Excel Options.
• From the resulting pop-up window click on Advanced, and then scroll down to section marked General.
• In this section there are a number of check boxes, make sure to uncheck the check box “Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)”.
• After you Uncheck the check box, click on OK to apply the new settings
• Then exit MS Excel and open the previous document you were trying to open. There will be no more error after you have followed these steps. 

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• Posted on - 09/19/2011
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Answered By ijpnet 5 points N/A #125169

Error Opening XML Document in Excel

Hi Richard!

Yes, this is a version incompatibility issue.

So, you need to convert first your XML spreadsheet in Excel 2007 to Excel 2003 version.

Here's how:

1. Using MS Excel 2007, open your XML spreadsheet file.
2. On the top left corner, click on that circular-shaped button then a drop-down menu will appear.
3. Scroll down and highlight on SAVE AS. Another window will appear.
4. Highlight and left-click on EXCEL 97-2003 WORKBOOK option.
5. A SAVE AS window will appear, you can create another or the same file name whichever you like.
6. Click on SAVE button. By now, your XML spreadsheet version Excel 2007 is already converted to Excel 2003 that will be compatible to your Excel at home.

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• Posted on - 09/19/2011
• Question Category: MS Excel