Unable to Connect Using Network Dynamic Data Exchange

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

When you try to connect to another computer using Network Dynamic Data Exchange (NETDDE), you may be unable to do so.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the computer name you are trying to connect to contains any extended characters.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

A NETDDE link consists of two parts, the DDE server program and the DDE client program. The DDE server program contains the data to be shared. The DDE client requests the data from the DDE server, creating a DDE Link. Network DDE requires the server program to make the data accessible on the network. The server program creates a NETDDE share, available over the network, which the client program can connect to. Some examples of NETDDE programs are Microsoft Chat, Microsoft Clip Board Server and Microsoft Hearts.

If your computer has Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) installed, the computer name can be up to 63 characters long. The computer name should only contain the numbers 0-9, the letters A-Z and a-z, and hyphens. You may use other characters, but doing so may prevent other users or NETDDE programs from finding your computer on the network. For additional information about using NETDDE, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q128491 Creating a NetDDE Link in Excel on Windows NT

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb