'The file is not in a recognizable format' when launching Excel due to missing MS Office components

Troubleshooting

Problem

User launches Excel. User receives error message. User clicks OK. User sees strange-looking spreadsheet appear, called 'ControllerXL.xll', which has text such as: Microsoft Excel - ControllerXL.xll [Read-Only] MZ[][][][]model L,[]! <....>

Symptom

Microsoft Excel
The file is not in a recognizable format
* If you know the file is from another program which is incompatible with Microsoft Office Excel, click Cancel, then open this file in its original application. If you want to open the file later in Microsoft Office Excel, save it in a format that is compatible, such as text format
* If you suspect the file is damaged, click Help for more information about solving the problem.
* If you still want to see what text is contained in the file, click OK. Then click Finish in the Text Import Wizard
OK Cancel Help

[{"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.3","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}},{"Product":{"code":"SSMRTZ","label":"IBM Cognos Controller on Cloud"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":" ","Platform":[{"code":"","label":""}],"Version":"","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}}]

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Historical Number

1040398

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Document Information

More support for:
IBM Cognos Controller

Software version:
8.3

Operating system(s):
Windows

Document number:
375877

Modified date:
08 May 2025

UID

swg21347980

IBM Support

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