linked files & UNC paths

[Dagk]

Hi,

I have a user who has copied a word doc (Office XP) that has links to multiple spreadsheets. In the original word doc the links are listed as be on a specific drive letter e.g. w:\linked_spreadsheet.xls. After copying and moving the original file, the linked spreadsheets have now automatically changed their names to the UNC path e.g. \\server1\data\linked_spreadsheet.xls. Although these locations are in effect the same. When you open the word doc however it then complains that it can't find the links. Changing the name of the links back to w:\ seems to fix this. Problem is there are several hundred links and would like to know why it is happening in the first place. Thanks.

 

[tf1]

The solution is to only ever use UNC paths: it is never a good idea to use mapped drives for any pathsin Office applications after Office 2000. This has been bugged but is unlikely to be changed - certainly not before the next version of Office. Then my gut feeling is it won't be changed then either.


Regards: tf1

 

[Dagk]

So what the user should do is go back to the original doc and make sure all links are UNC paths before copying the doc? Is this the only real solution for the user?

 

[tf1]

It's the only solution that I know.

Regards: tf1

 

[macropod]

Hi,

There are two ways I can suggest for changing the name of the links back:

1. Open the document and press Alt-F9 to reveal all the field codes, then use Search/Replace to change the UNC paths to the required drive paths

2. Use my field link utility, downloadable from:

http://www.wopr.com/cgi-bin/w3t/showthreaded.pl?Number=261488

Cheers