Phantom Printer Names in Excel 5.0

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SYMPTOMS

When you run Microsoft Excel version 5.0 in Microsoft Windows 95, printers that do not exist may appear in the Printer Setup dialog box.


CAUSE

This occurs if you install a printer with a name that uses long printer names containing spaces. Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and earlier use the MS-DOS 8.3 file naming convention. This naming convention does not recognize the long printer name. Instead of truncating the long printer name into a compatible 8.3 name format, each space is interpreted as the beginning of a new printer name. For example, if you add a printer named "\\Server\My Awesome Printer", this appears in the list of printers as three different printers:

"\\Server\My"
"Awesome"
"Printer"


RESOLUTION

Do not include spaces in names of printers when you install printers in Microsoft Windows 95.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbprint xlwin
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :
Technology :


Last Reviewed: October 5, 1999
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