You receive a "Form load failed" or "Path invalid" error message when you try to create a custom form and publish the form to a search folder in Outlook 2003 (817889)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to create and publish a custom form to a search folder, you receive one of the following error messages:

Form load failed.

-or-

Please enter a valid path. Could not complete the operation. One or more parameter values are not valid.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because a search folder is not a folder that contains files. A search folder is a folder that contains shortcuts to the actual e-mail message or file.

For more information about search folders, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type about search folders in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem and publish a custom form, select a standard Outlook folder to publish to instead of a search folder. To create a new folder, follow these steps:

Click Inbox.
On the File menu, point to New and then click Folder.
In the Name box, type a name for your new folder.
In the Select where to place the folder list, select the location for your new folder.
Click OK.

For more information about folders, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type about folders in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.