Why can't により be used with "concrete, tangible objects"?


According to "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar" p. 297, により/によって
can be used as "a particle that indicates means"

> その問題は話し合いに{よって/より}解決出来るはずだ。  
>  We should be able to solve that problem by means of negotiation.

But,

> However, when the instrument is a concrete, tangible object _ni yori_ cannot
> be used as in  
>  (3) 漢和辞典に{よって/*より}知らない漢字を調べる。

Is this correct? Is there any reason for this?

