OFF: Default File Extension Added to Filename Using Save As

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Project for Windows 95, version 4.1
• Microsoft Access, version 7.0
• Microsoft Access 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In the Microsoft applications listed above, when you change or add an extension to a filename in the Save As dialog box, an additional extension may be added to the filename. For example, if you use the Save As dialog box in Microsoft PowerPoint to save your presentation as SLIDES.ABC, the file may be saved as SLIDES.ABC.PPT.

CAUSE

When you save a file in the Save As dialog box, the extension defaults to match the file type listed in the Save As Type box. If you change the extension or add an extension, the default extension is appended to the new extension.

When you save a document in Microsoft Word, the default extension that appears in the Save As Type list is Word Document (*.doc). If you save a file with an extension other than *.doc while this default extension is selected in the Save As Type list, the extension .DOC is appended to the filename that you entered. For example, if you save a file as TEST.DAT while Word Document (*.doc) is selected in the Save As Type list, the file is saved as TEST.DAT.DOC.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Windows 95. The extension that appears in the Save As Type list is appended to the filename when you save a file, even if you enter an extension for the file. Note however that the extension is not appended if you enter the same extension that appears in the Save As Type list. For example, if you save your Microsoft Excel worksheet as TEST.XLS while Microsoft Excel Workbook (*.xls) is selected in the Save As Type list, the file is saved as TEST.XLS, not as TEST.XLS.XLS.

This behavior occurs because of the functionality of using long file names, and the ability to save a file with a filename that contains a period (.). The file extension in Microsoft Windows 95 identifies the file type. Because of this, if you save a file with a file extension that is not registered in Windows, such as .DAT, the file type is displayed as DAT File.

WORKAROUNDS

To save a file with an extension other than one of the extensions available in the Save As Type list, enclose the entire filename in quotation marks as in the following examples:

   "test.dat"

   -or-

   "slides.dat"

   1. On the View menu, click Options.

   2. Click the View tab.

   3. Select the "Hide MS-DOS File Extensions For File Types That Are
      Registered" check Box, and then click OK.