WD: Can't Use NoLongNetNames with Word Versions Later Than 6.0

If you add the NoLongNetNames option to the Registry, it has no effect on whether Word is able to resolve a network connection. Word will return the universal naming convention (UNC) path when you view the following:

• A {FILENAME /p} field. The /p switch returns the path to the open document.
  
  -or-
• The File Locations tab. To view the File Locations tab, click Options on the Tools menu.

Use the RegOptions macro in Word 7.x and Word 97 and use the Windows NT Registry editor (Regedt32.exe) for Word for Windows NT to map the network drive to a drive letter.

Word 97

1. Map the network drive to a drive letter.
2. Use the RegOptions macro to reset the default document location:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Templates And Add-ins.
   2. Click Add.
   3. Locate the Macros subfolder. By default, Word macro templates are installed in the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\ Office\Macros folder.
   4. Select the Support8.dot file and click OK.
      
      This step adds the Support8 template to the "Global Templates and Add- ins" box.
      
      Click OK.
   5. On the Tools menu, point to macro, and then click Macro.
   6. In the Macros In list, click "Support8.dot (Global Template)." In the Macro Name list, click RegOptions and then click Run.
   7. Select the Word 8.0 Options tab.
   8. In the Option list, select DOC-path.
   9. In the Setting box, type the path to the network location (for example, G:\user\mydocs).
   10. Click OK.

Word 7.0

1. Map the network drive to a drive letter.
2. Use the RegOptions macro to reset the default document location:
   1. On the File menu, click Templates.
   2. Click Add.
   3. Change to the Macros subfolder under Winword (for example, C:\Msoffice\Winword\Macros).
   4. Select the Macros7.dot file and click OK. This step adds the Macros7 template to the "Global Templates and Add-ins" box. Click OK.
   5. On the Tools menu, click Macro.
   6. In the Macros Available In list, click "Macros7.dot (Global Template)." In the Macro Name list, click RegOptions and then click Run.
   7. In the Section box, select Word 7.0 Options.
   8. In the Option list, select DOC-path.
   9. In the Setting box, type the path to the network location (for example, G:\user\mydocs).
   10. Click OK.

Word 6.0

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and go to the following key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Options
   					

2. Double-click Doc-path
3. In the String box in the String Editor dialog box, type the path to the network location.
4. Click OK.

NoLongNetNames is an option that was added to some early versions of Word for Windows to disable UNC support. This setting instructs Word to always use the logical drive letter instead of the UNC path. This option is not supported in Microsoft Word for Windows versions later than 6.0. This change affects the versions listed at the beginning of this article.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: