WD95: Error Setting Document Location to Banyan or Pathworks

• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When you change the default document location to a Banyan Vines server or DEC Pathworks server, you get the following error message:

   Directory not valid.

CAUSE

Banyan Vines and DEC Pathworks do not support the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) required by Word to locate the default file location. Therefore, Word will not identify the server location as a valid directory.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, first set the default document path in Microsoft Word to a folder that contains a shortcut to the Banyan Vines or DEC server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Create a shortcut on your desktop to the Banyan Vines or DEC server.

2. In Word, use the following steps to establish a path to the shortcut:

   a) Start Word.

   b) On the Tools menu, click Options and then select the File

         Locations tab.
   

   c) Select Documents, and click the Modify button.

   d) From the Look in list, select Desktop.

   e) Select the shortcut you created in step 1.

   f) Click the OK button.

   g) Click the Close button.

1. To open a document:

   a) On the File menu, click Open.

   b) The Look In area should point to the Banyan Vines or DEC

         server; if it does not, select Desktop and then double-click
         the shortcut folder to the Banyan Vines or DEC server.
   

   c) Click the file you want to open and then click Open.

2. To save a document:

   a) On the File menu, click Save As.

   b) The Save In area should point to the Banyan Vines or DEC

         server; if it does not, select Desktop and then double-click
         the shortcut folder to the Banyan Vines or DEC server.
   

   c) Enter a file name and then click Save.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the 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

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q110266
        TITLE: OFF: Err Msg: <Program> Cannot Find or Run the Application

   ARTICLE ID: Q153787
        TITLE: WD95: Can't Set Workgroup Template Location on Banyan Vines
               Network