Word 2003 filepath characters safe for hyperlinks.

chrisjj · #1 09-09-2025, 06:28 AM

Anyone know for sure the set of filepath characters safe for hyperlinks? I'm seeking workaround for the failure of [, { and # (https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...03-2007-a.html).

Or... a scientific way to find out? Given I've found at least two modes of fail, I would be reluctant to rely on the results of trial and error.

Fun fact: ¦ is safe though | is disallowed. My UK keyboard has these two transposed, for some reason.

Charles Kenyon · #2 09-09-2025, 09:58 AM

From: Naming Files, Paths, and Namespaces - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn

Quote:

The following fundamental rules enable applications to create and process valid names for files and directories, regardless of the file system:

Use a period to separate the base file name from the extension in the name of a directory or file.
Use a backslash (\) to separate the components of a path. The backslash divides the file name from the path to it, and one directory name from another directory name in a path. You cannot use a backslash in the name for the actual file or directory because it is a reserved character that separates the names into components.
Use a backslash as required as part of volume names, for example, the "C:" in "C:\path\file" or the "\\server\share" in "\\server\share\path\file" for Universal Naming Convention (UNC) names. For more information about UNC names, see the Maximum Path Length Limitation section.
Do not assume case sensitivity. For example, consider the names OSCAR, Oscar, and oscar to be the same, even though some file systems (such as a POSIX-compliant file system) may consider them as different. Note that NTFS supports POSIX semantics for case sensitivity but this is not the default behavior. For more information, see CreateFile.
Volume designators (drive letters) are similarly case-insensitive. For example, "D:" and "d:" refer to the same volume.
Use any character in the current code page for a name, including Unicode characters and characters in the extended character set (128–255), except for the following:
- The following reserved characters:
  - < (less than)
  - > (greater than)
  - : (colon)
  - " (double quote)
  - / (forward slash)
  - \ (backslash)
  - | (vertical bar or pipe)
  - ? (question mark)
  - * (asterisk)
- Integer value zero, sometimes referred to as the ASCII NUL character.
- Characters whose integer representations are in the range from 1 through 31, except for alternate data streams where these characters are allowed. For more information about file streams, see File Streams.
- Any other character that the target file system does not allow.
Use a period as a directory component in a path to represent the current directory, for example ".\temp.txt". For more information, see Paths.
Use two consecutive periods (..) as a directory component in a path to represent the parent of the current directory, for example "..\temp.txt". For more information, see Paths.
Do not use the following reserved names for the name of a file:
CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, COM¹, COM², COM³, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, LPT9, LPT¹, LPT², and LPT³. Also avoid these names followed immediately by an extension; for example, NUL.txt and NUL.tar.gz are both equivalent to NUL. For more information, see Namespaces.

chrisjj · #3 09-09-2025, 11:04 AM

Thanks, but that's for filepath characters in general. For filepath characters in Word 2003 hyperlinks.

Charles Kenyon · #4 09-09-2025, 03:13 PM

Here is the page on the Hyperlink field:
Hyperlink field
The # character is used to indicate bookmarks.
The " double quote character is used within fields.
I believe you've already looked at Paul's Word Fields and Relative Paths to External Files.

There is nothing wrong with you using trial and error. Then you can write the definitive answer.

chrisjj · #5 09-10-2025, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

Here is the page on the Hyperlink field:
Hyperlink field
The # character is used to indicate bookmarks.

There's no mention of that use on the page. And anyway, that use does not apply to the filepath.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

I believe you've already looked at Paul's Word Fields and Relative Paths to External Files.

I have, but it doesn't relate to this issue, which is nothing specific to relative paths.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

There is nothing wrong with you using trial and error. Then you can write the definitive answer.

Let's see if that's already been done.

Thanks.

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