Links for filepaths too long (+260) fix?

[Alejandro Gombao]

Hello,

I have designed an Index for a repository of documentation in which every cell has a Link to open the corresponding file.

It all works wonderfully until the paths start getting longer, since there are docens of directories and subdirectories deepness.

Is there any way so the link can work even if it's so long?

The error when you click on the link is:

I have also noticed that if I rightclick and open the "modify hyperlink", then copy the link to the file and paste it in my file explorer, it works... So I hope there is some way to bypass the error.

Thank you in advance

 

[jdellasala]

Hello,

I have designed an Index for a repository of documentation in which every cell has a Link to open the corresponding file.

It all works wonderfully until the paths start getting longer, since there are docens of directories and subdirectories deepness.

Is there any way so the link can work even if it's so long?

The error when you click on the link is:
View attachment 81347

I have also noticed that if I rightclick and open the "modify hyperlink", then copy the link to the file and paste it in my file explorer, it works... So I hope there is some way to bypass the error.

Thank you in advance

Have you thought of using a URL shortener? Most browsers have an extension that will do this, some against multiple services:

That's a Chrome extension simply called Url Shortener, and as illustrated can use several services. The shortened link for this page is https://tinyurl.com/2hwqr7ds

 

[Alejandro Gombao]

Have you thought of using a URL shortener? Most browsers have an extension that will do this, some against multiple services:
View attachment 81435
That's a Chrome extension simply called Url Shortener, and as illustrated can use several services. The shortened link for this page is https://tinyurl.com/2hwqr7ds

Hello, thanks for your reply.

Maybe it wasn't clear enough, but the "repository of documentation" I'm talking about is a series of servers located in the local network of my company. The links that lead to those files are generated automatically, directly to the excel sheet.

Don't think it would be possible to pass all those links from excel through any link shortener, to be honest...

 

[jdellasala]

Hello, thanks for your reply.

Maybe it wasn't clear enough, but the "repository of documentation" I'm talking about is a series of servers located in the local network of my company. The links that lead to those files are generated automatically, directly to the excel sheet.

Don't think it would be possible to pass all those links from excel through any link shortener, to be honest...

You would need to get the LAN technicians to provide an auxiliary shorter drive mapping further down the path. Typically a network drive like F: is mapped to the root of server storage. If all of your files are under F:\Path1\Path2\Path3, a new drive letter could be assigned to that path so to get to the files in Path3 you'd address X:\ thus shortening the path. That mapping could be done for just you and doesn't need to be a global change. In some environments you could execute the command MAP X: F:\Path1\Path2\Path3 from a command prompt, or that command could be added to your personal login script.
Alternatively the folders would need to have their names shortened, but that could cause major problems! Good luck!

 

[Alejandro Gombao]

You would need to get the LAN technicians to provide an auxiliary shorter drive mapping further down the path. Typically a network drive like F: is mapped to the root of server storage. If all of your files are under F:\Path1\Path2\Path3, a new drive letter could be assigned to that path so to get to the files in Path3 you'd address X:\ thus shortening the path. That mapping could be done for just you and doesn't need to be a global change. In some environments you could execute the command MAP X: F:\Path1\Path2\Path3 from a command prompt, or that command could be added to your personal login script.
Alternatively the folders would need to have their names shortened, but that could cause major problems! Good luck!

Yeaaah I thought about that, and it is indeed already done.
Sadly, after doing that a number of about 3000 files have their lengths on around 420 chars length of full repository deepness... Guess they will have to be copy-pasting the links untill Microsoft decides to make a file explorer that supports LongPaths

Thank you anyway

 

[jdellasala]

Yeaaah I thought about that, and it is indeed already done.
Sadly, after doing that a number of about 3000 files have their lengths on around 420 chars length of full repository deepness... Guess they will have to be copy-pasting the links untill Microsoft decides to make a file explorer that supports LongPaths

Thank you anyway

You could always open a Command Prompt window and use the command:
DIR F:\Path1\Path2\Path3\*.xlsx /S /B >FileList.txt
the /S parameter is to scan all subdirectories, and the /B parameter is to show the entire file path and name (Bare).
That will output a text file named FileList with all the files listed with their entire path through all sub directories. There will be no word wrapping in the fille even though it would wrap on the screen if that's where the output went instead of the text file.

 

[Adam Gore]

Have you tried the tool, I would Recommened here LongPathTool.

 

[jolivanes]

Give each part it's own name

a = C:\A Folder Name Here\Another Folder Name Here\And One More\
aa = Folder_Four\Folder_Five\Folder_Six\
aaa = Folder_Seven\Folder_Eight\Folder_nine\
aaaa = Folder_Ten\Folder_Eleven\Folder_Twelve
Path = a & aa & aaa & aaaa

 

[Joe4]

Give each part it's own name

a = C:\A Folder Name Here\Another Folder Name Here\And One More\
aa = Folder_Four\Folder_Five\Folder_Six\
aaa = Folder_Seven\Folder_Eight\Folder_nine\
aaaa = Folder_Ten\Folder_Eleven\Folder_Twelve
Path = a & aa & aaa & aaaa

I think you would need each literal string part in double-quotes (Text Qualifier).
And you should NOT use reserved words like "Path" as the name of your variables. Doing so can cause errors and unexpected results.

So your code should be updated like this:

a = "C:\A Folder Name Here\Another Folder Name Here\And One More\"
aa = "Folder_Four\Folder_Five\Folder_Six\"
aaa = "Folder_Seven\Folder_Eight\Folder_nine\"
aaaa = "Folder_Ten\Folder_Eleven\Folder_Twelve"
MyPath = a & aa & aaa & aaaa

 

[jolivanes]

Thanks Joe.
It was only meant as an example and thinking that the OP new that. And if not, he/she would learn something what might be a plus.
If you say all of that, what about mentioning that I did not show to dimension all of these as strings.
Your signature says it all. Give a man a perfect code and he'll be happy for as long as no changes are required. Teach him when falling down to get up up and he'll learn something. (Changed to suit the occasion)