"The file name is not valid" error message when you try to back up your OneNote 2003 notebook (833337)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to back up your Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 notebook, you may receive the following error message:

The file name is not valid. File names cannot be longer than 256 characters in length.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if your backup folder resides too many folder-levels deep. For example, this problem may occur if you have a folder structure that is similar to the following for your backup folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\OneNote\Backup\Folder1\Folder2\Folder3\Folder4\Folder5\Folder6\Folder7\Folder8\Folder9\Folder10\Folder11\Folder12\Folder13\Folder14\Folder15\Folder16\Folder17\Folder18\Folder19

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, limit the number of folder-levels that you use to back up your OneNote 2003 notebook.

To change the path for your backup files, follow these steps:

Start OneNote 2003.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
In the Category list, click Open and Save.
In the Paths box, select Backup Folder, and then click Modify.
Create the back up path that you want.

For example, create a backup path that is similar to the following:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\OneNote\Backup

MORE INFORMATION

OneNote 2003 can automatically back up your notebook files at the time interval that you specify. To change the time interval, follow these steps:

Start OneNote 2003.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
In the Category list, click Backup.
Click to select the Automatically back up my notebook at the following time interval check box, change the box to the time interval that you want, and then click OK.

Note If you want to immediately back up your OneNote 2003 notebook, click Backup Now.