Errors

Error: File cannot be accessed by the system when you export from Accounts Production Advanced

Scenario

You may get the following error message when you export a trial balance from Accounts Production Advanced as a Microsoft Excel file.
Error message
The file cannot be accessed by the system.

Cause

The likely cause is a failure of your Microsoft Windows operating system to access Excel files. This might happen after your firm re-installs or updates Microsoft Office, or when there's a problem with your firm's data storage.

Solution

important
We recommend that only an experienced IT professional carries out these steps. This is because incorrect changes to the Microsoft Windows Registry can cause problems that will prevent your system from working properly. 
  1. Check that Microsoft Excel opens and functions correctly.
  2. If Excel doesn't function correctly, ask your firm's IT professional to fix the problem.
  3. Find the location of the
    Excel.exe
     file on your computer and make a note of it.
    tip
    You could search for
    Excel.exe
     in
    Windows File Explorer
     or enter Excel in
    Windows Search bar
    , right-click
    Excel
     in the results, and select
    Open file location
     from the context menu. Common file locations are:
    • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office
      [version]
      \
       for a 64-bit version.
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office
      [version]
      \
       for a 32-bit version.
  4. Run Windows Registry Editor as administrator.
  5. If the
    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exe
     key is present:
    1. Select this key.
    2. Make sure the file path in the Data column of the
      (Default)
       setting is correct.
    Windows Registry Editor. In the tree diagram of Registry keys in the first pane, the Computer\HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exe Registry key is selected. The second pane shows the values within the excel.exe Registry key. The file path for excel.exe is shown in the Data column for the valled called (Default).
  6. If the
    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exe
     key is present:
    1. Select this key.
    2. Make sure the file path in the Data column of the
      (Default)
       setting is correct.
  7. Close Microsoft Windows Registry.
  8. Restart the computer and re-export the trial balance.

This article applies to:

  • Product: Digita Accounts Production Advanced
  • Subject: Export