Shorter file names using MS Office v.X versus Windows MS Office

[YS2003]

I just noticed Mac version's MS Office v.X chops off long file names to comform them to thirty-something character limitation.

I have a bunch of MS office files (Words and Excel) with long file names (such as, weekly sales report for September 2005) and they are backed up in the external HDs. I copied them over to my Mac's external HD so that I can edit them. But, Office v.X cuts off file names if they exceed that cap.

Is there any patch to keep the original file names intact and is usable & editable under Mac. I run both Tiger and Panther.

 

[MisterMe]

I just noticed Mac version's MS Office v.X chops off long file names to comform them to thirty-something character limitation.

I have a bunch of MS office files (Words and Excel) with long file names (such as, weekly sales report for September 2005) and they are backed up in the external HDs. I copied them over to my Mac's external HD so that I can edit them. But, Office v.X cuts off file names if they exceed that cap.

Is there any patch to keep the original file names intact and is usable & editable under Mac. I run both Tiger and Panther.

Yes, the patch is called MS Office 2004. Office v.X is a Carbon suite, which unlike most Carbon apps, is incompatible with MacOS 9. It was developed prior long file names being added to Carbon. Therefore, if you want MS Office to use long file names, you are just going to have to use the Windows version or upgrade to Office 2004.

 

[varmit]

I just noticed Mac version's MS Office v.X chops off long file names to comform them to thirty-something character limitation.

I have a bunch of MS office files (Words and Excel) with long file names (such as, weekly sales report for September 2005) and they are backed up in the external HDs. I copied them over to my Mac's external HD so that I can edit them. But, Office v.X cuts off file names if they exceed that cap.

Is there any patch to keep the original file names intact and is usable & editable under Mac. I run both Tiger and Panther.

Then make it: WeeklySalesReport-Sept-05.doc 25 characters there, but I'm sure you can use code like WSR-Sept-05.doc to make it only 11 characters. Other than that, looks like MS makes you upgrade to 2004 to get the longer file names.