I can see them but I can’t load them

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I was given some Excel files that appear in the directory and I can see the contents in Windows Explorer preview. But if I try to load the file into Excel, I get a “file could not be found error”. If I move them to another directory, I can open them. The path+filename length for the original directory is 233 characters. I have run into path+filename length problems before, but only when the path+filename exceeded 256 characters.

Anyone know the practical limit to number of characters?

And sometimes I get nostalgic for good old 8.3 filenames. But then again, nostalgia isn’t what it used to be…

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The path to the file (including the file name) must be < 218 characters. The limitation includes three characters representing the drive, the characters in folder names, the backslash character between folders, and the characters in the file name.

There is a 256-char limitation in Excel for creating links to other files. This limit of 218 characters is because some chars are used the apostrophes and brackets for workbook name, the 31 chars in sheet name, the cell reference (including an exclamation point), etc.

Steve

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Thanks for the info!

A second thought: If I have the server mapped as the Z: drive, does that count as 3 characters or does the complete string (\192.168.61.5Projects) count as 24 characters?

Thanks.

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I don’t know you will have to test it and see. It could be sporadic. It may save but not open or vice versa.

Steve

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