Microsoft KB Archive/131161

= OFF: Default File Extension Added to Filename Using Save As =

Article ID: 131161

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft PowerPoint 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Project 4.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q131161





SYMPTOMS
In the Microsoft applications listed above, when you change or add an extension to a filename in the Save As dialog box, an additional extension may be added to the filename. For example, if you use the Save As dialog box in Microsoft PowerPoint to save your presentation as SLIDES.ABC, the file may be saved as SLIDES.ABC.PPT.



CAUSE
When you save a file in the Save As dialog box, the extension defaults to match the file type listed in the Save As Type box. If you change the extension or add an extension, the default extension is appended to the new extension.

When you save a document in Microsoft Word, the default extension that appears in the Save As Type list is Word Document (*.doc). If you save a file with an extension other than *.doc while this default extension is selected in the Save As Type list, the extension .DOC is appended to the filename that you entered. For example, if you save a file as TEST.DAT while Word Document (*.doc) is selected in the Save As Type list, the file is saved as TEST.DAT.DOC.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Windows 95. The extension that appears in the Save As Type list is appended to the filename when you save a file, even if you enter an extension for the file. Note however that the extension is not appended if you enter the same extension that appears in the Save As Type list. For example, if you save your Microsoft Excel worksheet as TEST.XLS while Microsoft Excel Workbook (*.xls) is selected in the Save As Type list, the file is saved as TEST.XLS, not as TEST.XLS.XLS.

This behavior occurs because of the functionality of using long file names, and the ability to save a file with a filename that contains a period (.). The file extension in Microsoft Windows 95 identifies the file type. Because of this, if you save a file with a file extension that is not registered in Windows, such as .DAT, the file type is displayed as DAT File.



WORKAROUND
To save a file with an extension other than one of the extensions available in the Save As Type list, enclose the entire filename in quotation marks as in the following examples:

"test.dat"

-or-

"slides.dat"

Note that you can also turn off the display of file extensions for registered file types in Windows by doing the following in Windows Explorer or My Computer:


 * 1) On the View menu, click Options.
 * 2) Click the View tab.
 * 3) Select the "Hide MS-DOS File Extensions For File Types That Are Registered" check Box, and then click OK.

Additional query words: file name edit prj incorrect wrong

Keywords: KB131161

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