Cannot start the source application for this object: embedded PDF in Excel 2016

Question

Hi everyone,

I found a thread of the same issue but it did not resolved my problem. Out IT team is unresponsive but I am really running out of time on this issue. Starting from Friday I suddenly cannot open ANY embedded PDF files from excel, even the ones that I received earlier. My colleague was able to open the files, so obviously the problem originates from my device.

When I double clicked on the icon in Excel,

Excel (Office 365 ProPlus Ver. 1707 Build 8326.2073 Click-to-run) shows:

"Cannot start the source application for this object"

And Adobe (Acrobat Pro DC release version 2018.011.20055) shows:

"There was an error opening this document. This file cannot be found"

OS info: Windows 10 Enterprise ver. 1607 (Build 14393.2248)

Strangely enough, this action will be performed twice- not sure if this is relevant.

I have browsed through the internet - changing preference in Adobe did not work. Please help!!

Answer 1

Just giving a try 

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice\_excel-mso\_other-mso\_2007/embedded-pdf-documents-in-excel-2007-not-opening/4fc7c427-7b7a-4a06-bf76-d0469df9e0ef

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/919066/error-message-when-you-try-to-change-a-microsoft-organization-chart-2

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice\_excel-mso\_other-mso\_2010/unable-to-open-embedded-files-in-excel-2010/163df7a8-75fe-4b11-9b6d-cbf812a278a7

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice\_excel-mso\_other-mso\_2013\_release/embedded-pdf-documents-in-excel-2013-not-opening/19f54b8b-8ecd-4031-b7ea-e6c95b6f056f

https://help.foxitsoftware.com/kb/got-a-message--cannot-start-the-source-application-for-this-object--when-double-clicked-on-adobe-acrobat-object-in-excel-file-.php