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.
- Check that Microsoft Excel opens and functions correctly.
- If Excel doesn't function correctly, ask your firm's IT professional to fix the problem.
- Find the location of theExcel.exefile on your computer and make a note of it.tipYou could search forExcel.exeinWindows File Exploreror enter Excel inWindows Search bar, right-clickExcelin the results, and selectOpen file locationfrom the context menu. Common file locations are:
- C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Officefor a 64-bit version.[version]\
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Officefor a 32-bit version.[version]\
- Run Windows Registry Editor as administrator.
- If theComputer\HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exekey is present:
- Select this key.
- Make sure the file path in the Data column of the(Default)setting is correct.

- If theComputer\HKEY_CURRENT USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exekey is present:
- Select this key.
- Make sure the file path in the Data column of the(Default)setting is correct.
- Close Microsoft Windows Registry.
- Restart the computer and re-export the trial balance.