Using the Start Command with Long File Names

ID: Q186613

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

You can use the Start command at a command prompt to start applications either at the Terminal Server console or within a Terminal Server Client session. For instance, the command


     start "\\server\share\group contact info.xls"

should open Excel and this spreadsheet, but it does not.

CAUSE

A problem in the parser in Windows NT Server 4.0 causes this command to fail.

RESOLUTION

To make the command work, the command line must be modified to:


     start \\server\share\"group contact info.xls"

STATUS

MORE INFORMATION

More generally, this command will fail:


     start "\\LONG SERVER\LONG SHARE\LONG DIR\LONG FILE"

This command will work:


     start  \\"LONG SERVER"\"LONG SHARE"\"LONG DIR"\"LONG FILE"

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug