Symptom
User launches Cognos Controller. User notices that the quick-link/shortcut icon to launch Excel is grayed out, and they cannot use it to launch Microsoft Excel.

Cause
User(s) belong to a security group which has the selection “Reports – Controller Link” configured. But its “Access Rights” are set to “Not Available”

Solution
1. Click “Maintain – Rights – Security Groups”
2. Select the tab ‘Menus’
3. In the ‘Code’ section, select the group which the user(s) belong to
4. Locate the entry for ‘Reports – Controller Link’
5. Change the setting ‘Access Rights’ from ‘Not Available’ to ‘Normal’.