Spreadsheet 'object' created in Excel as result of preview..

[j_c_hallgren]

Maybe nothing that can be fixed, but at least to document for others...
Here's the sequence as best I can describe it:

1) I have Excel 2000 opened but no active sheets...(I've been working on some sheets but am done with them but not ready to quit Excel)...
2) I then preview a .XLS file in XY while browsing thru a folder...
3) While that preview is active, I try to switch back to Excel appl...it just doesn't respond...so...
4) When I then switch to another file type, like text, in XY preview, I'm able to resume Excel appl..but...
5) There is now a sheet open with name of "object"!
So...Where did this come from??

XY is 4.40.57 (yes, I'm a bit behind..)

[Gandolf]

That, I think, is a Microsoft problem. Very strange things happen if you preview Excel (and I suspect Word) documents.

[admin]

That, I think, is a Microsoft problem. Very strange things happen if you preview Excel (and I suspect Word) documents.

Yes, indeed. I'm just using the MS app IE to preview the MS Office docs. I just sit there and watch MS playing with itself. There's nothing I can do.

You can always opt to not preview certain file types in configuration.

[calvin]

Fwiw, I don't see this problem with WORD doc files.

However, with Excel if, with a spreadsheet open, I then use XYplorer to preview another spreadsheet, an "Object" is created on the open spreadsheet. After the object is closed, all Excel Toolbar tabs are inactive. Have to close and reopen Excel to reactivate them. No big deal since I am able to save the open spreadsheet before closing but interesting...mine is the outdated Excel 97 SR-1.

[admin]

Fwiw, I don't see this problem with WORD doc files.

However, with Excel if, with a spreadsheet open, I then use XYplorer to preview another spreadsheet, an "Object" is created on the open spreadsheet. After the object is closed, all Excel Toolbar tabs are inactive. Have to close and reopen Excel to reactivate them. No big deal since I am able to save the open spreadsheet before closing but interesting...mine is the outdated Excel 97 SR-1.

I cannot express my feelings about Office in public without risking to be prosecuted... anyway, improving bizarre cases like this is on my list.

[PeterH]

Fwiw, I don't see this problem with WORD doc files.

However, with Excel if, with a spreadsheet open, I then use XYplorer to preview another spreadsheet, an "Object" is created on the open spreadsheet. After the object is closed, all Excel Toolbar tabs are inactive. Have to close and reopen Excel to reactivate them. No big deal since I am able to save the open spreadsheet before closing but interesting...mine is the outdated Excel 97 SR-1.

I cannot express my feelings about Office in public without risking to be prosecuted... anyway, improving bizarre cases like this is on my list.

2 aspects, both using the same programs...

There are some "office viewers" from MS. They are for free, even for people not owning MS office. And for my understanding, if you only want to view some downloaded file, they are (a bit) more secure than the "big ones". I've installed them, and even on doubleclick, they open instead of Excel, word, etc. for me.
But when I open an office file in XY in preview pane, it opens in the full program. Just contrary to what makes sense for me...

Now if it would be possible to define the system (i.e. XY *or* IE?) to use the viewers for XY preview, it might have 2 advantages:
1) to use the viewer for preview, what's more secure
2) possibly no interaction/disturbance between previewing and possibly open office programs. (At least I know both programs can be used at the same time.)

I'm afraid the change will not be in XY, but in IE. But making it maybe would help better previewing in XY - and possibly someone has an idea how to achieve this.

Or, if installed, the viewers could be called directly from XY, without using IE??

[admin]

Fwiw, I don't see this problem with WORD doc files.

However, with Excel if, with a spreadsheet open, I then use XYplorer to preview another spreadsheet, an "Object" is created on the open spreadsheet. After the object is closed, all Excel Toolbar tabs are inactive. Have to close and reopen Excel to reactivate them. No big deal since I am able to save the open spreadsheet before closing but interesting...mine is the outdated Excel 97 SR-1.

I cannot express my feelings about Office in public without risking to be prosecuted... anyway, improving bizarre cases like this is on my list.

2 aspects, both using the same programs...

There are some "office viewers" from MS. They are for free, even for people not owning MS office. And for my understanding, if you only want to view some downloaded file, they are (a bit) more secure than the "big ones". I've installed them, and even on doubleclick, they open instead of Excel, word, etc. for me.
But when I open an office file in XY in preview pane, it opens in the full program. Just contrary to what makes sense for me...

Now if it would be possible to define the system (i.e. XY *or* IE?) to use the viewers for XY preview, it might have 2 advantages:
1) to use the viewer for preview, what's more secure
2) possibly no interaction/disturbance between previewing and possibly open office programs. (At least I know both programs can be used at the same time.)

I'm afraid the change will not be in XY, but in IE. But making it maybe would help better previewing in XY - and possibly someone has an idea how to achieve this.

Or, if installed, the viewers could be called directly from XY, without using IE??

Sounds good but is probably not possible. At least I don't know how.

[leshake]

I am evaluating five different File Management systems, including Directory Opus, xplorer2, ultraexplorer, FreeCommander.

So far the system I like best is Xyplorer.
However, I was dismayed that it cannot preview Office Docs without opening them in the full application. On the Xyplorer site one of the FAQs said that it is a Microsoft problem.

I tried to preview in Directory Opus. It worked.
I tried the preview in Xplorer2. It worked.

I tried the fix suggested in Windows Explorer, namely tools, file types, highlight, the go to advanced and allowed previewing in same window. That did not work in Xyplorer.

So, I'd be interested in suggestions, if there are any.
Based on other filemanagers doing previews without problem, I think it must be an Xyplorer problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Leshake

[j_c_hallgren]

Hi and welcome to the XY forums!

I'm not 100% sure but I suspect that both DO and x2 may have native Office viewers embedded while XY relies more on an external interface so that can cause some issues...and I thought the FAQ referred only to the 'open in new window' thing instead of using a window within XY.

[admin]

I plan to revise the Office (and other) preview anyway so there's a chance I might fix it.

Questions:
- Do the other file managers just show the first page or all pages?
- Do the other file managers allow you to edit the previewed doc?