ACC97: Publish to the Web Wizard Does Not Allow Custom File Name

• Microsoft Access 97

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

The "Publish to the Web" Wizard does not allow you to type in a unique name for a file. It appends "_1" (without the quotation marks) to the end of each file that it publishes. For example, the table "Categories" is saved as "Categories_1.html" when you publish it to HTML format using the "Publish to the Web" Wizard.

If you use the "Publish to the Web" Wizard to export two objects that have the same name, an "_2" (without the quotation marks) is appended to the end of the second file name. For example, if you click Save As HTML for the Categories table and the Categories form at the same time, two files are created, Categories_1.html and Categories_2.html.

CAUSE

The "Publish to the Web" Wizard allows you to export multiple objects; therefore, it cannot allow you to specify custom file names.

RESOLUTION

To assign a custom file name to your Web file, follow these steps:

1. Select the object you want to publish in the Database window.

2. On the File menu, click, Save As/Export.

3. In the Save As dialog box, click "To an External File or Database." Click OK.

4. In the Save In dialog box, select the folder where you want to save your file.

5. In the Save As Type box, select a Web format for your file.

6. In the File Name box, type the name you want to give to your Web file. Click Export to create the file.

NOTE: You cannot simply rename your files after you export them because scripts in IDC and ASP files still refer to the original name. In addition, if links in other HTML files (such as a default home page) refer to the original name, those links will be broken if you rename the original file.

Note also that the "Publish to the Web" Wizard overwrites existing files without warning; the Save As/Export command on the File menu prompts you before overwriting existing files.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. On the File menu, click Save As HTML.

3. Click Next on the opening screen of the "Publish to the Web" Wizard.

4. On the "What do you want to publish?" screen, select all of the Northwind tables. Click Finish.

5. When the wizard finishes creating the files, use Windows Explorer or File Manager to locate the folder where you saved the HTML files. Note that the files have the same names as the objects you selected to publish, with "_1" appended to the end.

REFERENCES

For more information about exporting HTML, IDC, or ASP files, search the Help Index for "Publish to the Web Wizard" or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.