WD: Workgroup Templates Shows UNC Path Not Drive Letter Path

 Last reviewed: December 23, 1997
Article ID: Q178405
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you specify the workgroup templates file location in Microsoft Word using a path similar to the following 

   E:\<ShareName>
where <ShareName> is the name of the share, the path actually stored will be a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path for that file location (similar to the following): 

   \\ServerName\ShareName

CAUSE

By design, when you save a document or change a setting to a network location specified using a mapped logical drive letter, Microsoft Word will convert the path from one containing a logical drive letter to a UNC-style path.

WORKAROUND

To display and use a path with a logical drive letter and not the UNC file location for Workgroup templates, follow these steps:

  1. Double-click a blank area of the Microsoft Office Shortcut toolbar to display the Customize dialog box (or right-click the shortcut bar and click Customize on the shortcut menu).

  2. Click the Settings tab.

  3. Select Workgroup Templates location, and click Modify.

  4. Type the path using a logical drive letter for the templates in Setting (Word 7.0, Office 7.0) or Folder name (word 97).

  5. Click OK.

The path is displayed as the following: 

   E:\\ShareName
The path with the Setting drive letter will appear in on the File Locations tab of the Options dialog box (on the Tools menu, click Options). Note, however, that if you modify the path in this dialog box, the path will revert to UNC.

NOTE: When a logical drive letter is used in the path, that network share must be mapped to that logical drive letter at all times for Word to be able to use the path. This is why the default method is UNC, which enables Word to find a network location without having to map a drive.

STATUS

This problem does not occur in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows, Service Release 1 (SR-1).

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this behavior in Microsoft Word SR-1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q171406
   TITLE     : How to Disable the Use of UNC.
For additional information about Microsoft Word templates and their locations, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q138059
   TITLE     : How to Determine Where Word Looks for Templates

Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: December 23, 1997
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