PRJ: "Filename Not Valid" Changing Link to Macintosh File (114037)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 98 for Windows
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 95 4.1
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 4.0
This article was previously published under Q114037

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Project, when you change the source for a link from a Microsoft Project for the Macintosh file with a long filename, and you do not include the DDE link information in the source name, the following error message appears
Filename 'Macintosh Filename' not valid
where Macintosh Filename is the name of the linked project file.

This error message appears even if you change the source of the link to a file other than the original source.

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving this error message,include the DDE link information in the Source box in the Change Source dialog box. The DDE link information appears in the Source box after the linked filename, separated from the filename by an exclamation point, as in the following example:

C:\WINPROJ\FILEWITH.LON!DDE_LINK_T1

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use the Change Source button in the Links dialog box, the current link appears in the Source box. The link information contains the name of the linked file, followed by an exclamation point, and the DDE link information. When you choose the Browse button and select another file for the source, the DDE link information is not retained. If you do not enter this information before you choose OK in the Change Source dialog box, the following error message appears:
Invalid Source: Do you want to correct it?
If you choose Yes, you can then enter the correct DDE link information, and establish the link.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Start Microsoft Project for the Macintosh. In a new project, enter a task T1. Save the file with the filename Client.
  2. In a new project, enter a task T2. Save the file with the filename Source with a long name. Select T2, and from the Edit menu, choose Copy.
  3. Switch to CLIENT, select the Name column below T1, and choose Paste Link from the Edit menu.
  4. Exit Microsoft Project and save the changes to both files. Copy the files to a network drive.
  5. Start Microsoft Project for Windows. Open the CLIENT file. Choose Yes to re-establish the link. Choose No in the dialog box asking if you want to delete the link.
  6. From the Edit menu, choose Links. Choose the Change Source button. From the Drives list, select the network drive that contains the Source With A Long Name file. From the File Name list, select SOURCEWI.THA and choose OK.
The following error message appears:
Filename 'Source with a long name" not valid
Note that this error occurs even if you select another file from the File Name list in step 6.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/13/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbinterop kbnofix kbusage KB114037
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.