most word and excel docs should open without a problem when copied
directly to the pc.

The issue you are reporting is the fact that pocket file explorer does
not have the ability to directly "open" files on network shares... you
can, however, copy them to the ppc and open them.

Other third party file explorers have the ability to open files from a
network share such as Resco's file explorer.

Note that complex documents will not show advanced features and if any
"edits" are performed on complex documents, the advanced features _will
be permanently lost_ when the ppc closes and saves the file back to the
share.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]