FindFile List is Empty on When Searching a Network Drive

ID: Q105782

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When using the FindFile feature in Word for Windows version 6.0, trying to locate files on a network drive may produce an empty list. This can happen when any number of special characters, like an underscore, period or space are a part of the network name. This may also occur if the network drive specified does not exist or the drive is password protected and Word does not know the password. In either case, no error message is returned.

Note: The Novell Netware parameter, Maximum Outstanding NCP Searches =, will product similar symptoms. Try increasing the maximum.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

In order to work around this problem, add the following line to the WINWORD6.INI file in the [Microsoft Word] section to tell Word for Windows to use the drive letter: 

   NoLongNetNames=Yes

MORE INFORMATION

When a network drive is specified, Word for Windows uses the UNC name rather than the drive letter to reference that drive. For example, given a network connection q:\\servername\sharename and a search from File Find, the Search List under File Find will record the net drive as \\servername\sharename by default. But if the NoLongNetNames=Yes line is included in the WINWORD6.INI under the [Microsoft Word] section, the Search List will record q: for the net drive.

UNC redirection is supported by Microsoft LAN Manager versions 1.1 and later and by 100-percent-LAN-Manager-compatible networks.

For more information on UNC support in Microsoft Windows, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   UNC and windows and 3.1 and convention
When Find File searches a network drive that does not exist, no error message is returned. If the drive does exist but is password protected and you have not connected to the drive in this Windows session, Word does not prompt you for the password, but instead acts as though the drive was searched and no files were found. If you connect to the password-protected network drive and then search for the file using Word Find File before you exit and restart Windows, Word will search the drive and return an accurate list of files on the drive.

KBCategory: kbnetwork KBSubcategory: Additional query words: 6.0 word6 winword 

Keywords          : kbnetwork
Version           : 6.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1997