I maintain an application whose data gets updated once a year from a FileMaker Pro file that’s edited throughout the year on local computers.  This admittedly makes very little sense, but it is nonetheless so.

Every year the import process produces new and unexpected strangeness.  This year, attempting to open the file produces this error:

Microsoft Office is not able to run FileMaker Pro at this time. Verify that FileMaker Pro has been installed correctly on this machine.

First of all, FileMaker Pro is correctly installed, as evidenced by the fact that I used it last year successfully.  Moreover, though, why exactly is it necessary for Microsoft Office to run the application for me?  Is Microsoft Office running my other applications, like an elevator attendant who adopts the laborious task of pressing buttons for passengers?  If so, could Microsoft Office kindly let my other applications run themselves?