You cannot access folders that use long file names on NetWare servers from a 16-bit program running on a Windows 95-based computer (147838)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open files or folders on a Novell NetWare server from a 16-bit program that is running on a Microsoft Windows 95-based computer, you may experience the following symptoms:

You may not see any files or folders when you browse a folder that has long file name on the Novell Netware server.
When you try to open files or documents from a folder on the Novell NetWare server, no files or documents may appear in the File menu's Open dialog box in the program that you are using.

CAUSE

The issues that are discussed in the "Symptoms" section may occur if the16-bit program uses the Open dialog box from the Windows 95 version of the Commdlg.dll file. The 16-bit program that uses the Windows 95 version of the Commdlg.dll cannot view files or documents in a folder on a NetWare server if the folder has a long directory name. For example, a 16-bit program may be unable to view documents in a folder that is named "LongDirectoryName" on a NetWare server.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:

Change the name of the folder on the NetWare server so that it does not have a long directory name. You can still use long file names for files.
View the files and documents by using My Computer or Windows Explorer. Double-click the file that you want to open.
Upgrade your 16-bit program to a 32-bit version.
Type the exact path of the file by using NetWare's short file names for the folders and files.
Use the Novell NetWare Workstation Shell and a real-mode Novell NetWare client instead of the Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks.

Note Real-mode Novell NetWare clients do not support viewing long file names on NetWare servers from 32-bit Windows 95-based programs.

STATUS

This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Windows 98. To resolve this problem, install the current version of Windows. For more information about the current version of Windows, visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows

MORE INFORMATION

The following programs exhibit the behavior that is described in this article:

Lotus Notes (16-bit version)
Microsoft Access version 2.0
Notepad (16-bit versions)
Microsoft Project version 4.0

Note Microsoft Word version 6.0 for Windows and Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for Windows do not exhibit this behavior because they do not use the Windows 95 version of the Commdlg.dll file.
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

165402 Windows 95 update to encrypt passwords in memory

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.