XCLN: Certain Characters Not Allowed in Web Services URL

• Microsoft Outlook Windows 95 client, version 8.03
• Microsoft Outlook Windows NT client, version 8.03
• Microsoft Outlook for Windows 3.1x, Exchange Server Edition, version 8.0
• Microsoft Outlook for Macintosh, Exchange Server Edition, version 8.0

SYMPTOMS

When you specify a Uniform Resource Link (URL) containing a hyphen (-) or underscore (_) in the Web Services Location or Directory Page Location fields, you may receive an error similar to the following:

   The URL syntax is incorrect. The character - is not valid.

CAUSE

Although these characters are normally valid for a URL, the Microsoft Outlook client does not allow them to be used.

WORKAROUND

The only workaround at this time is to specify a URL that does not contain a hyphen or underscore.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Outlook 8.03 contains the following new Web Form features:

• Use Outlook Web Access to open messages not understood by Outlook client: This option allows Outlook to automatically display an unrecognized form in HTML format using a Web browser.
• Activate Web Forms links on Compose menu: This option allows a user to specify a link to a Web Forms directory page. It also adds the Web Form command to the Compose menu.