How can I preview .doc and .xls files in Opus 9? All I get is the hex view.
I have OpenOffice installed, but not Microsoft Office. I have tried dragging files onto the ActiveX Document Viewer Plugin Config dialog, but nothing happens.
I'm also confused by the link to Microsoft in this dialog. Do I have to download a viewer from Microsoft to be able to preview these files inside Opus? I'd prefer not to ...
You need to install the OpenOffice ActiveX control. I think it comes with OpenOffice these days, but it's an optional part of the install.
Post back if you have trouble finding it.
A good and quick way to test whether it's all working is to try viewing a document using Internet Explorer. If OpenOffice displays inside of IE then it should work in Opus as well.
I installed the OO ActiveX control, but there is no change. And when I try to open files in IE, it just launches OpenOffice.
Also did a restart to be on the safe side.
I did a search for activex in the OO 2.2 directory, and there is a file called so_activex.dll. Don't know if that's the one?
so_activex.dll sounds like the right file. Try running
regsvr32 so_activex.dll
in a command prompt, from the directory with the DLL, then restart IE and see if you have better luck.
I followed your instructions, and got a message saying something like the operation was successful. But unfortunately, still no change. (also did a reboot)
I had a look at the OO.o forums and it looks like their ActiveX control is b0rked. Lots of people there are complaining that they can't view OO.o files inside IE when it used to work in OO.o 1.1.5. Nobody seems to have offered any solutions in any of the threads I found there. 
oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=activex
oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=activex
oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=activex
oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=activex
Well, in that case, there isn't much to do about it, except complain to OpenOffice. I can preview these files in Power Desk, but I suppose they use a different technology.
In any case, thaks a lot for your input - you have been very helpful.
See if this thread might be a viable alternative.
This is interesting, since I have Power Desk installed. For some reason, the VCOM folder appears as a System folder in Opus, and the Power Desk subfolder does not appear at all, although it does appear in Windows Explorer. So is there a file in the Power Desk folder i could copy to Opus, to utilize the OutsideIn viewer?
As for the OO ActiveX control, I have filed a bug report to OO.
I installed the Yahoo toolbar, and it's working now. Luckily, I could disable all the toolbar's features, so I don't even notice it's there - just taking advantage of its viewer files.