How to open a PDF file embedded in Excel worksheet from a PC user?

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Level 1

4 points

How to open a PDF file embedded in Excel worksheet from a PC user?

I am not able to open PDF file embedded in an excel. I got the excel file from a collaborator with a PC, and it has multiple PDF documents in cells that I cannot open. I see an error message "Cannot open the source application for this file" when I try to open the embedded PDF file. A prior answer suggested the problem could be fixed by command-I but that does nothing. I'm running Excel 16.61.1 and have both preview and acrobat reader open.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 12.4

Posted on May 31, 2022 12:03 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,296 points

May 31, 2022 6:46 AM in response to davidmarc

I was looking at Excel 16.61 here on macOS 12.4 and it only permits one to insert Word document objects into an Excel cell. The Windows version of Excel apparently allows one to create a new object type (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Document) that expects the Windows version of Acrobat Reader DC installed to allow it. Then one can select the PDF file to embed and it is done. I do not have Office 2021 for Mac installed on Windows 11 Pro to further test this process. Though I have the current Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, and for this insert issue, that did not matter.

I also have LibreOffice v7.3.3 here on Monterey and its Calc application does not permit creating new embed types or embedding a PDF either.

If you cannot right-click on the PDF icon (object) in the Excel cell and be offered any means to open or save it, and if Quick Look cannot present it, then you are done.

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