# Excel Err Msg: Common Dialog Reported an Error While...

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q102946
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a

In Microsoft Excel version 4.0 or 4.0a for Windows, you may receive the following error message when you choose Print, Print Preview, or Page Setup from the File menu:

       Common Dialog reported an error while attempting to bring up the
       dialog.

In Microsoft Excel for Windows version 3.0, you may receive this message:

       Cannot open printer driver.

This error message may be caused by any of the following situations:

- A printer is not selected as the default printer in Control Panel.

  To check this, start Control Panel and choose the Printers icon. If the Default Printer section is blank or says "No Default Printer," select the printer you you want to use and choose the Set As Default button, or double-click the desired printer in the list of Installed Printers.

  Normally, when a default printer isn't selected, you will receive one of the following error messages when you choose Print, Print Preview, or Page Setup:

            Current printer is either missing or bad. Please select a new
            printer. (Microsoft Excel 4.0)

            -or-

            Error printing on unknown printer (check your Control Panel).
            (Microsoft Excel 4.0)

            -or-

            Error printing on unknown printer (check Printer Setup).
            (Microsoft Excel 3.0)

            -or-

            Cannot open printer driver. (Microsoft Excel 3.0)

- The COMMDLG.DLL file may be corrupt or you may have more than one copy of the file on either your local hard drive or on any network drives to which you may be connected.
- The printer driver you are using may be missing or corrupt. Remove the printer driver from Control Panel, delete or rename the driver in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, and reinstall the driver from Control Panel.

> KBCategory: kbprint
> KBSubcategory:

> Additional reference words: 3.00 4.00 4.00a

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
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