Microsoft KB Archive/132752

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL: "Ambiguous Address" Error Routing File Cross-Platform
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997

Article ID: Q132752

5.00 5.00c 7.00 7.00a | 5.00 5.00a

WINDOWS   | MACINTOSH kbinterop kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel for Windows, when you route a workbook using the Routing Slip dialog box to a recipient who is using a Macintosh computer, you may receive the following error message:

Ambiguous Address

CAUSE
This behavior occurs when you route a workbook from a personal computer running Microsoft Windows to a Macintosh computer, and back to the personal computer. When you route the file from the personal computer to the Macintosh computer a second time, this error message appears, and you cannot route the file.

This problem occurs because of the way that the recipient name is stored in the workbook. In Microsoft Excel for Windows, when you route a workbook to a recipient on a Macintosh computer, a copy of the recipient name is stored in the workbook, for example "jane.mac." In Microsoft Excel on the Macintosh, the Macintosh mail name "jane.mac" is resolved by adding the gateway name, such as "jane.mac@gatewayname." When this file is routed back to Microsoft Excel on the personal computer running Windows, the routing slip cannot interpret the "@gatewayname" portion of the originator's address.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.