PPT98: Hyperlink Action Setting Fails if File Name Has Two Dots (183543)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q183543

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to follow a Hyperlink action setting in Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition, you may receive the following message:
Cannot open the specified file.
If you reopen the Action Settings dialog box, the text used in the Hyperlink To box has changed and looks similar to this:

file://my file/

In addition, the "Use relative path for Hyperlink" option is unavailable (dimmed).

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:
  • You defined the Hyperlink in the Action Settings dialog box.
  • You selected the "Use relative path for Hyperlink" option.
  • You selected a destination file and the file name contains two dots (..).

RESOLUTION

Use one of the following methods to resolve this behavior.

Method 1: Define the Hyperlink Using the Edit Hyperlink Dialog Box

If you use the Edit Hyperlink dialog box to define your Hyperlink rather than the Action Settings dialog box, you can define a Hyperlink to a file that includes two dots. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
  2. In the "Link to file or URL" section, click the corresponding Select button.
  3. Select the file you want to use as your destination link and then click OK.
  4. Click to select the "Use relative path for Hyperlink" check box and click OK.

Method 2: Remove the Dots from the File Name

  1. Using the Finder, find the file you want to use as your destination link.
  2. Click the file and briefly pause. The text defined as the name should now be highlighted.
  3. Type a new name for the file, making sure that you do not include the two dots.
  4. Because you changed the name of the file, you must reconfigure the action settings. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Select the object that has the action setting.
    2. On the Slide Show menu, click Action Settings.
    3. Click Hyperlink To.
    4. From the Hyperlink To list, click Other File.
    5. Select the file you renamed in step 3, and then click OK.
    6. Click to select the "Use relative path for Hyperlink" check box and click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/3/2002
Keywords:kbhtml kbprb kbusage KB183543
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.