WD2002: You Cannot Use a Partial File Name to Search the File Name List (314126)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q314126

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 2002, when you type a partial file name in the File name box (in the Open dialog box) in search of a particular file to open, Word does not display a list of the files in the current folder that contain the partial file name. This behavior is different from earlier versions of Word, which allow the list of file names in the Open dialog box to be filtered according to any partial file name that you type in the File name box.

For example, if you type red in the File name box in any Microsoft Office 2000 program, you might receive the following results (assuming that files with these full names exist in the current folder):
  • Reduction Principle.doc
  • Hunt For Red October.doc
  • Covered Wagons.doc

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard character. For example, to search a folder for any files that contain the partial file name "red", follow these steps:
  1. Start Word 2002, and then open a new blank document.
  2. On the File menu, click Open.
  3. In the Open dialog box, type *red* in the File name box, and then press ENTER. The Open dialog box now displays any file that contains the partial file name "red", as in the examples described in the "Symptoms" section of this article. The asterisks at the beginning and the end of the partial file name allow Word to match any part of the file name. To display only files that start with "red", type red*. To display only those that end with "red", type *red.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/6/2006
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB314126
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