Hyperlinks to server files in Word

G

gb01202009

I'm trying to create a Word document that contains hyperlinks to
folders on a Windows 2003 server. The idea is that this memo can be
sent out to employees who click on the appropriate link which then
opens up a folder on the server full of the documents they need to
fill out. These links work just fine, as long as the shared volume in
question is already mounted. Unfortunately, that rather defeats the
purpose of the exercise. These links (properly and differently
formatted, of course) work as intended from Windows machines, but
links to documents (as opposed to web URLs) automatically get changed
to "file://localhost/etc/etc/" when used/created on a Mac. I've tried
turning off the auto-formatting of hyperlinks in the AutoCorrect tool
and using a hyperlink base set in the document's Properties. Despite
being bound to AD nothing seems to work unless the shared volume is
already mounted - doesn't matter whether the volume is available via
SMB/CIFS or also via AFP. Anyone know how to get this to work from a
Mac!?
 
J

John McGhie

If you use a UNC path, that *might* force a mount of the volume, if your
administrator has set things up correctly.

So: \\\server name\share name\folder name\document.doc

Sorry, I've never tried it. Note the back-slashes: I don't think UNC paths
work with forward slashes.

Otherwise, you could try putting the document on the server FIRST. Note:
DON'T use a hyperlink base, otherwise all hyperlinks will have the hyperlink
base prepended on clicking. Make sure that's blank.

But basically, the real way to do this is to use a URL: An HTTP path that
will cause the DNS to resolve the link to an IP address at runtime. (If you
don't HAVE a DNS running locally, you could specify the IP address of the
server instead). That will resolve whether things are mounted or not...

Cheers

I'm trying to create a Word document that contains hyperlinks to
folders on a Windows 2003 server. The idea is that this memo can be
sent out to employees who click on the appropriate link which then
opens up a folder on the server full of the documents they need to
fill out. These links work just fine, as long as the shared volume in
question is already mounted. Unfortunately, that rather defeats the
purpose of the exercise. These links (properly and differently
formatted, of course) work as intended from Windows machines, but
links to documents (as opposed to web URLs) automatically get changed
to "file://localhost/etc/etc/" when used/created on a Mac. I've tried
turning off the auto-formatting of hyperlinks in the AutoCorrect tool
and using a hyperlink base set in the document's Properties. Despite
being bound to AD nothing seems to work unless the shared volume is
already mounted - doesn't matter whether the volume is available via
SMB/CIFS or also via AFP. Anyone know how to get this to work from a
Mac!?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:john@mcghie.name
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top