Microsoft KB Archive/129548

Knowledge Base

Cannot Open Attachment With Spaces In File Name In MSMAIL32

Article ID: 129548

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51

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This article was previously published under Q129548

SYMPTOMS

When you run Windows NT Mail (MSMAIL32.EXE) and attempt to open an attached file that has spaces in the file name, the following error message appears:

The application for the attached file '<file name.ext>' (or one of its components) could not be found.

TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM

1. Create a file name with spaces in the name, for example:

   "This is a small file.txt"

   but without the quotation marks.
2. Create a second file, with a long file name, but without spaces in the name, for example:

   Thisismylongfilename.txt

3. Start the Windows NT Mail client, create a new message and choose Attach. Change to the directory that contains the two files created.
   
   NOTE: The full file name appears in the dialog box!
4. Select both files and choose Attach.
   
   Both files are attached to the message, and the correct names appear.
5. Try to doubleclick the file with spaces in the name ("This is a small file.txt").
   
   The following error message appears:

   No application is associated with...

6. Try to doubleclick the file without spaces in the name (Thisismylongfilename.txt).
   
   This works correctly.

The same symptom occurs if you choose Save Attachment from the File menu. The dialog box offers the whole file name of the attached file but it does not offer the option to save the attached file with this name.

CAUSE

When you doubleclick on the file attachments, Windows NT saves them in the following manner to TEMP directory:

   Original File Name            File Name Saved by Windows NT
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   This is a small file.txt      thisisas
   Thisismylongfilename.txt      thisismy.txt
                

The "thisisas" file name does not have a *.txt extension and therefore the error message above appears.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, save the attached file to a local drive and then open it.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1, 3.5 and 3.51. A fix to this problem is in development, but has not been regression-tested and may be destabilizing in production environments. Microsoft does not recommend implementing this fix at this time. Contact Microsoft Product Support Services for more information on the availability of this fix.

Additional query words: prodnt attachment

Keywords: KB129548

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