OL2002: File Path Does Not Convert to UNC When Inserted as a Hyperlink (818900)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2002

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a file as a hyperlink into a Microsoft Outlook 2002 e-mail message and you are using Rich Text as your e-mail format, the path of the file does not convert to a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path.

Note To check the format of the e-mail message, click the Tools menu, and then click Options. Click the Mail Format tab, and then make sure that next to Compose in this message format it states Rich Text.

For example, if you insert a file that is located on a network share (mapped drive) as a hyperlink in an Outlook 2002 e-mail message, the path of the file may be inserted as <file://driveletter:\folder\filename> instead of the UNC path of <\\servername\share\filename>.

RESOLUTION

Part 1: Download and Install the Fix

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft Office XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.
The global version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time     Size        File name     
   -----------------------------------------------
   01-May-2003  22:28    7,021,704   Outlookff.msp
   01-May-2003  20:08    3,242,416   Outlookop.msp
After the hotfix is installed, the following files will have the listed attributes or later:
   Date         Time   Version       Size       File name     
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   20-Dec-2002  00:41  10.0.4817.0     109,128  Envelope.dll     
   09-Jan-2003  22:31  10.0.4907.0     346,696  Exsec32.dll      
   09-Aug-2002  03:22  10.0.4406.0     137,800  Impmail.dll      
   28-Feb-2003  01:56  10.0.5025.0     543,304  Outlcm.dll       
   14-Mar-2003  07:55  10.0.5112.0     100,936  Outlctl.dll      
   01-May-2003  02:31  10.0.5229.0   6,318,664  Outllib.dll      
   11-Oct-2002  22:14  10.0.4608.0      92,744  Outlmime.dll     
   01-May-2003  02:31  10.0.5229.0      47,688  Outlook.exe      
   22-Mar-2003  03:06  10.0.5119.0     121,416  Outlph.dll       
   25-Nov-2002  18:50  10.0.4721.0      47,688  Recall.dll

Important Information Before You Install the Hotfix

  • The full-file version of this fix installs on Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 1 (SP-1). However, the full-file version has not been tested to the same extent on that version as it has on Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 2 (SP-2). Some unanticipated file conflicts are possible. This configuration is supported, but not recommended.
  • The client version of this fix is a post-Office XP SP-2 fix. To install the fix, you must have Office XP SP-2 installed. For additional information about Office XP-2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    325671 OFFXP: Overview of the Office XP Service Pack 2

  • The client version of this fix requires Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 or later. For additional information about the Windows Installer requirement, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    330537 OFFXP: Office XP Updates and Patches Released After September 2002 May Require Windows Installer 2.0

Part 2: Activate the Update

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To activate this hotfix, follow these steps:
  1. Quit Outlook.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  4. Locate, and then click to select the following registry key:

    HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Options\General\

  5. After you select the key that is specified in step 4, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD.
  6. Type VolumePathPref, and then press ENTER.
  7. Right-click VolumePathPref, and then click Modify.
  8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  9. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

Note Refer to the following table for the values that you can type in the Value data box in step 8.

Value dataDescription
0Use drivename:filename (default)
1Use UNC:filename

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the Standard Terminology That Is Used to Describe Microsoft Software Updates

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/7/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbbug kbfix kbofficexppresp3fix KB818900 kbAudEndUser
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