Unable to open Axiom forms within the Desktop Client

Summary

When using Axiom Comparative Analytics, you may encounter the following error: "Failed to create child process, Win 32 Error: 5".

This error can occur when attempting to open an Axiom form within the Axiom Desktop Client (either the Windows Client or the Excel Client). This applies to client-created Axiom forms, as well as product-delivered Axiom forms such as Month End Dashboard or Update VCC Threshold Table.

Details

Axiom Comparative Analytics uses an embedded browser to display Axiom forms within the Desktop Client. This embedded browser is run using an executable file located in the client installation directory. The executable file allows the rendering of web-based content within the Desktop Client, using Microsoft .NET Framework and Essential Objects.

If the executable file for the embedded browser is blocked by third-party antivirus software, the "failed to create child process" error listed in the summary occurs, and the Axiom form does not open.

The embedded browser is only used when opening an Axiom form within the Desktop Client. The issue does not occur when opening an Axiom form within a stand-alone browser, or when opening the spreadsheet source file for an Axiom form within the Desktop Client.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, the administrator of your antivirus software needs to add the following file to the list of exclusions: eowp.exe

Organizations that use Cylance Software have seen this issue, and have used the following steps from their help website to whitelist the application: How to Safelist a File. This has been the most common cause of the issue, and the most common fix.

In earlier versions of Axiom Comparative Analytics, the executable file was named eopw.exe, which contained an accidental misspelling of the original file name. Starting with Axiom Comparative Analytics version 2019.2, the executable file uses the Essential Objects name of eowp.exe. If your organization had already created an exclusion rule for the old file name, they must update the rule for the new file name when upgrading to Axiom Comparative Analytics 2019.2.

Outcome

Once the executable file for the embedded browser has been excluded from antivirus scanning, you can open Axiom forms within the Desktop Client.

Category	Reports
Applies To	Axiom Comparative Analytics version 2018.3 and up
Tags	Axiom Forms, Error, AntiVirus
Issue Number(s)	N/A