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Tips for Windows Environment

This section explains how to prevent errors while running robots within a Windows service. In this case, the built-in Excel driver may need some additional configuration in Windows to work correctly.

The following errors may occur during the execution of the Open step:

Device Issue. Error Executing Command: Error Creating Excel Instance: Unknown Error 0x800A03EC

This error is caused by an Excel's headless mode behavioral feature.

To resolve the error, perform the following:

  1. Create two empty folders (if they do not exist yet):
    • C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop
    • C:\Windows\SysWow64\config\systemprofile\Desktop
  2. Make sure the user of Windows service has access rights to these folders. These folders allow Excel to be started from a service.

Error Executing Command: Error Creating Excel Instance: Server Execution Failed and Error Executing Command: Error Creating Excel Instance: Access Denied

These errors can be caused by insufficient Excel COM Launch and incorrectly configured Activation rights. To resolve both errors, perform the following:

  1. In the Run dialog or Windows Start menu, start the dcomcnfg.exe application.
  2. In the opened window, navigate to Component Services > Computers > My Computer > DCOM Config > Microsoft Excel Application.

    If there is no Microsoft Excel Application entry, you may need to start the dcomcnfg.exe application for a different architecture.

    To do this, open a command-line window, navigate to C:\Windows\SysWOW64, and execute the following command: mmc comexp.msc /32

  3. Right-click the Microsoft Excel Application entry and select Properties .
  4. On the Security tab, select Customize for Launch and Activation Permissions and click Edit.
  5. Click Add to add a user or a desired user group if they are not on the list.
  6. Make sure the check boxes Local Launch and Local Activation are selected.
  7. Save all the changes and restart the Windows service.