XL: Cannot Find 'Filename' Saving, Opening, or Linking to File

ID: Q129157

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4, 0, 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 4, 0, 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you save or open a file, or when you create a link to a file, if the entire path name to the file, including the filename, is longer than 256 characters you may receive one of the following error messages:

Cannot find '<filename>'

CAUSE

This behavior is based on a 256-character limitation for creating links to another file. This limit is by design in Microsoft Excel because of the way that Microsoft Excel uses the filename internally. This behavior limits the path name, not including the filename, to 218 characters.

This limit of 218 characters for the path name (excluding the file name) is based on the following:

Up to 31 characters in a sheet name

Apostrophes and brackets used to denote the workbook name

An exclamation point

A cell reference

For example, the path for a file in Microsoft Excel for Windows might be:


   'c:\excel\personal\...\[workbook.xls]up_to_31_character_sheetname'!A1

The path for a file in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh might be:


   'HardDrive:excel:personal:...:[workbook]up_to_31_character_sheetname'!A1

If the path length including the filename exceeds the 256 character limitation, you will not be able to open, save, or create a link to the file.

MORE INFORMATION

The location of the file (network drive or local drive) does not change this behavior.

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for the Macintosh, when you save a file, you receive the following error message

Cannot access 'Foldername'

where Foldername is the name of one of the folders from the beginning of the path name.

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00a 5.00c err msg


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg 
Version           : WINDOWS: 4.0, 5.0, 5.0c; MACINTOSH: 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: April 25, 1999