Printing to File Results in a 0 (zero) Byte Print File

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

When you print to a file, Word for Windows may truncate the filename of the file you create and place it in the wrong location. When Word does this, it also places a second file in the correct location, with the correct filename, but the size of this file is 0 (zero) bytes. This happens whether you print to a file by selecting the Print To File option in the File Print dialog box or by selecting FILE: as the output port under Printers in Windows Control Panel.

For example, if you print to the following file

   C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\EQUATION\LONGNAME\OUTPUT1.PRN

CAUSE

Word truncates the name of your print file and places it in the wrong directory if either of the following conditions exist:

1. The path contains more than one directory and one subdirectory (two levels) AND the entire path (excluding the filename) contains more than 11 characters. For example:

         C:\DIRECTRY\SUBDIR1\SUBDIR2\OUTPUT1.PRN
   

   By contrast, Word does NOT truncate the filename of the following print file, even though the file is located more than two levels deep in the directory structure, because the entire path consists of only 11 characters:

         C:\USER\ME\94\JAN\OUTPUT1.PRN
   

2. Any directory name contains more than eight characters, even if the path contains only one directory and one subdirectory. For example:

         C:\DIRECTRY.NAM\SUBDIR\OUTPUT1.PRN
   

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word versions 6.0, 6.0a and 6.0c for Windows. This problem was corrected in Word version 7.0 for Windows 95.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: Place the print file no deeper than two levels deep in the

          directory structure. Make sure neither the directory nor the
          subdirectory name has more than 8 characters.

          entire path consists of 11 or fewer characters.