Microsoft KB Archive/186921

= OFF98: Cannot Use Pound Character in File Name for a Hyperlink =

Article ID: 186921

Article Last Modified on 10/4/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft PowerPoint 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q186921



SYMPTOMS
When you create a hyperlink in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition or Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition to another file, the following problems may occur:  The file name may include %23 in the "Link to file or URL" box in the Insert Hyperlink dialog box. -and-

 The hyperlink is displayed incorrectly in your document.

For example, it has a dash (-) in the text of the hyperlink. -and-

 When you click the hyperlink, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot open the specified file



NOTE: Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition may also display %23 in the "Link to file or URL" box. However, the hyperlink works without causing an error message to appear. If you redisplay the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for the hyperlink, the correct path is displayed in the "Link to file or URL" box.



CAUSE
These problems occur when the name of file to which you are linking contains a pound sign (#). These characters are automatically replaced.

NOTE: You see the error message in Microsoft Word only if the "Use relative path for hyperlink" check box is selected in the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, rename the file with a name that does not include the pound sign, and then recreate the hyperlink.

For more information about how to rename a file on your Macintosh, see your Macintosh printed documentation or online Help.

To delete and re-create the hyperlink in your Word or Excel document, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the document that contains the link and select the problem hyperlink.
 * 2) Press the DELETE key.
 * 3) To create a new hyperlink, click Hyperlink on the Insert menu.
 * 4) Click Select next to the "Link to file or URL" box. Click the Select button, locate the file to which you want to create the hyperlink, and click OK.
 * 5) Click OK.



STATUS
This behavior is by design of the Microsoft products listed above.



MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel, A hyperlink to a file with the following path

:test#1

appears as follows in the "Link to file or URL" box:

:test%231

The hyperlink appears as follows in the document (assuming you have not specified a friendly name for the hyperlink and you have selected the "Use relative path for hyperlink" check box):

test-1

When you click this hyperlink, you receive the following error message:

Cannot open the specified file

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

185360 OFF98: Spaces in Hyperlinks Replaced with String "%20"

179329 XL98: "Cannot Open Specified File" Clicking Hyperlink

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