OL2000: "Start Application" Rule Does Not Accept Command-line Arguments

ID: Q218228

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 2000

SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to set up a rule that automatically starts an application (using the Start Application option in the Rules Wizard) and you attempt to use any command-line arguments you will receive the following error message:

The file name, location, or format 'C:\Windows\Notepad.exe c:\Bootlog.txt' is not valid. Type the file name and location in the correct format, such as c:\location\file name.

In the above example the user attempted to start Notepad.exe to open the file Bootlog.txt.

RESOLUTION

If your operating system has a program registered to open the file you want to execute then point the Start Application rule to the file. In the above example, make the rule point to Bootlog.txt. Since Notepad is associated with .txt files, Notepad will open the file.

If there is no program registered to open the file, or if you want to specify the program that will open the file, create a shortcut that contains your command-line arguments and point the Start Application rule to the shortcut. For example, you could use a shortcut with the target line as follows:


C:\Windows\Notepad.exe C:\Bootlog.txt

When you create a rule that runs the shortcut, the rule will start Notepad and open the Bootlog.txt file.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: OL2K

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug