MacXL: Error Saving File to Path Longer Than 254 Characters (176272)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q176272

SYMPTOMS

When you save a file, you may receive one of the following error messages:
" cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only, or you might be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding.

-or-

Microsoft Excel cannot access the file 'Long Path Name'. There are several possible reasons:

  1. The file name or path name does not exist.
  2. The file you're trying to open is being used by another program. Close the document in the other program, and try again.
  3. The name of the workbook you're trying to save is the same as another document that is read-only. Try saving the workbook as a different name.

-or-

Document not saved.

-or-

'Filename' could not be found. Check the spelling of the file name, and verify that the file location is correct

If you are trying to open the file from your list of most recently used files on the File menu, make sure that the file has not been renamed, moved, or deleted.
When you click OK, you receive the following error message:
Document saved successfully. Cannot reopen the saved document due to low memory. Please close the document.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the path to the folder in which you are saving the file exceeds 254 characters.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, make sure that the path to the file contains fewer than 255 characters. To do this, use either of the following methods:
  • Rename the folders that contain the file so that they have shorter names and the resulting path contains less than 255 characters.

    -or-
  • Move the file to a folder with a shorter path name.

STATUS

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

REFERENCES

For more information about saving a workbook, click the Office Assistant, type save a workbook, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/11/2002
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg KB176272
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.