OL97: Double-clicking an Attachment Generates an Error

ID: Q174527

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a file attachment in an e-mail message received in Microsoft Outlook 97, you may receive the following error message: 

   The file, <path and name>, does not have a program associated
   with it for this action. To create an association, double-click
   My Computer on your desktop. On the View menu, click Options,
   and then click File Types.

CAUSE

The attachment has no file name extension. The file may have been saved with an extension, but when it was attached to the message the extension was not saved.

-or-

The file name extension is not a registered file type.

RESOLUTION

Sending the Attachment with a File Name Extension

The sender should follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer on the Desktop.

2. On the View menu, click Options.

3. On the View tab, click to clear the "Hide MS-DOS file extensions 

   for file types that are registered" check box and then click OK.
4. Close the My Computer window.

5. Resend the message with the attachment.

Registering the File Type

The recipient should follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the attached file, click Save As on the shortcut 

   menu, and then click Save. Note the folder the file was saved in.
2. Right-click Start on the Windows Taskbar and click Explorer. Navigate to 
   the folder you saved the file in.
3. Right-click the file you saved in step 1 and on the shortcut menu, click 
   Open With.
4. Click to select the program to open this file type with, under "Choose 
   the program you want to use."
5. Click to select the "Always use this program to open this file" check 
   box and then click OK.
Result: The attachment file will now open when you double-click it.

Additional query words: 

Keywords          : GnlFilem 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 12, 1999