Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 2003

G

Guest

I created an online work manual using a previous version of Word, 2002 I
believe. The files are created on my local C: drive and moved to the G: drive
on our network. Recently we were upgraded to Windows XP and Office 2003. Now
when I copy the manual files over to the network, the links change to
Absolute. I've tried unchecking the Save on exit, etc. but nothing works. Any
suggestions?
 
C

Cindy M -WordMVP-

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q29zYmVy?=,
I created an online work manual using a previous version of Word, 2002 I
believe. The files are created on my local C: drive and moved to the G: drive
on our network. Recently we were upgraded to Windows XP and Office 2003. Now
when I copy the manual files over to the network, the links change to
Absolute.
Check Tools/Options/General/Web Options/Files. There's a checkbox there about
updating links on save. Turn it OFF.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :)
 
G

Guest

Thank you Cindy. That works for stopping the updating, but where is the
option for choosing to make relative links? When I create a link, everything
has "C:\\mydocuments..." etc. Office help says I can choose what kind of link
I want but I don't see that option anywhere.

Cosber
 
C

Cindy M -WordMVP-

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q29zYmVy?=,
That works for stopping the updating, but where is the
option for choosing to make relative links? When I create a link, everything
has "C:\\mydocuments..." etc. Office help says I can choose what kind of link
I want but I don't see that option anywhere.
That depends on what you're trying to link in? Excel stuff? Other Word
documents? Hyperlinks? Something else?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :)
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy M -WordMVP-" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 200

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q29zYmVy?=,

That depends on what you're trying to link in? Excel stuff? Other Word
documents? Hyperlinks? Something else?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)

Hello Cindy,
The terms relative and absolute when attached to the
term "link" are established terms.
The procedures for implementing these types of links should NOT be dependent
on how a specific software decides to apply them. (Contrary to what MS
believes.)
Their use is not even Windows specific, rather the relative and absolute
terms are applicable across multiple OS.

Any idea why Word, Office or MS have a compulsion to create their own
methods?
Are they rebellious by nature :))
Or they just choose to alienate their users from the remainder of the world
;-))))
 
C

Cindy M -WordMVP-

Hi Lostinspace,
The terms relative and absolute when attached to the
term "link" are established terms.
The procedures for implementing these types of links should NOT be dependent
on how a specific software decides to apply them. (Contrary to what MS
believes.)
Their use is not even Windows specific, rather the relative and absolute
terms are applicable across multiple OS.

Any idea why Word, Office or MS have a compulsion to create their own
methods?
I can't speak for any Office application except Word, here... Whenever
something seems odd, and contrary to "standard practice", it always helps to
take a step back and remember that WinWord's core behavior was designed over
fifteen years ago. Back then, in the early days of Windows-on-top-of-DOS,
Windows was mostly standalone, or only very loosely coupled to a network.
Things were so compartmentalized that even the idea of *linking* something in
from another application was revolutionary. (Am I dating myself, here <g>?) The
tools to actually do it didn't really exist, and were developed gradually, from
the MS side starting with DDE, which was eventually replaced by OLE. In
addition, Word picked up the ability to display information from files it could
open using converters (documents, text, simple spreadsheets, graphics).

For these last, relative paths are supported (but only in relation to Word's
current "active" folder, not the document), but until recently, you ALWAYS had
to edit the field code to create them. Since Word 2000 (or maybe 97?), Word
will create a relative path for you, under certain circumstances.

For OLE (LINK fields), an absolute path is always required. I don't know the
reason why, but I suspect it might have something to do with performance hits
if Word needs to start looking for the file.

As to Hyperlinks and this particular absolute vs. relative option, I've
discussed this a couple of times with MS folks, but have never heard a clear
answer as to why this rather confusing behavior exists. What I think I know:
- Word should create a relative path if the files are in the same folder

- But if you then use Save As on the document, and the file it references is
not in the new location, Word will switch to an absolute path (if this option
is activated)

- This can also happen if you move the document (but not the referenced file),
then open the document

- Getting it to switch back automatically is "iffy"

- Originally, this behavior was designed only for saving as HTML, but in Word
2002 someone decided it really should apply to ALL links in a document. So it
was changed without documenting it, and without putting the option in a more
obvious place.

- The "hyperlink base" (File/Properties) is supposed to help with sorting out
relative/absolute situations, allowing you to specify a particular path for
links, no matter where the document resides.

===

The moving force behind the design decision is almost always "lots of people
(may = big corporation customers) want it that way".

And lastly, one always has to keep in mind that the people who make these
decisions rarely work with Word at a "professional" level. They rely on
feedback from various sources for their decisions, and sometimes they don't
listen to the right people (or a wide enough range of people) :)

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :)
 
G

Guest

So Cindy,
Am I correct to understand that this new version of Word makes all links
absolute and there is no way to change it? These hyperlinks are to other
pages in my manual-all Word docs saved as HTML. Since I have many folders for
the particular subjects in the manual, using the Hyperlink Base is useless,
unless I don't understand how to use it properly.
 
C

Cindy M -WordMVP-

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q29zYmVy?=,
Am I correct to understand that this new version of Word makes all links
absolute and there is no way to change it?
No, that shouldn't be the case, as long as the files you're linking are in
a relative location to the document you're working in. All the files need
to be saved before you create a hyperlink (that means the document you're
editing!) to the same folder (tree). If they're not, Word certainly can't
create a relative link.

I just tested in Word 2003, and Word created a relative hyperlink with no
problem.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or
reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :)
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cosber" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 2003

So Cindy,
Am I correct to understand that this new version of Word makes all links
absolute and there is no way to change it? These hyperlinks are to other
pages in my manual-all Word docs saved as HTML. Since I have many folders
for
the particular subjects in the manual, using the Hyperlink Base is
useless,
unless I don't understand how to use it properly.

Cosber,
Once you have made the conversion from Word-Docs to html?
Html pages are straight text files with an html file extension.
These may be edited with any text editor. There are utility text editors
designed spefically for dealing with html pages and search and replace of
single or multiple lines either in a single folder or across multiple
folders.

One that I use is "Search and Replace 98" which is free:
http://www.htmlworkshop.com/srhtml98.html
 
G

Guest

I appreciate the help, but I don't know if I'm getting my question across so
I'll try it one more time: With the previous version, working either from the
C drive, or even my zip drive which was on E:, I would create a hyperlink in
one document to another document in my manual. I created probably dozens of
hyperlinks from page to page. When I would move the entire folder, or even
just a single document to ANY place-another drive, another folder, another
computer, the links would change accordingly-I believe the term for these
links is "relative'. Since changing to XP and Office 2003, they don't change
when they are moved. They stay pointed to wherever I worked on the file.

Is there a setting someplace that will stop this from happening?
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cosber" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 1:11 AM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 200

I appreciate the help, but I don't know if I'm getting my question across
so
I'll try it one more time: With the previous version, working either from
the
C drive, or even my zip drive which was on E:, I would create a hyperlink
in
one document to another document in my manual. I created probably dozens
of
hyperlinks from page to page. When I would move the entire folder, or even
just a single document to ANY place-another drive, another folder, another
computer, the links would change accordingly-I believe the term for these
links is "relative'. Since changing to XP and Office 2003, they don't
change
when they are moved. They stay pointed to wherever I worked on the file.

Is there a setting someplace that will stop this from happening?

I don't have 2003.
In 2000:

Tools / Options / General / Web Options / Files / Update Links on Save,
untick.
While your here, also a good idea to untick, " Organize supportingfiles in a
folder."

If your main goal is html pages, you will save your self plenty of time and
effort by making the conversion to an appropiate software rather than
wasting your time attempting to make Word do something it was not designed
for.
 
G

Guest

I work for the City of San Diego-we are only allowed to work with City
Standard software. Anything else on our machines is grounds for firing squad
and asking for special software has the same chance as requesting a raise.
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cosber" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 200

I work for the City of San Diego-we are only allowed to work with City
Standard software. Anything else on our machines is grounds for firing
squad
and asking for special software has the same chance as requesting a raise.

All Windows based computers come with NOTEPAD or some other simple text
editor.
Even the old DOS systems had some archaric old thing named "Reg-something"
which was line based editing of text files.

You'll need to work with the tools you have available, as Word is not a good
tool for html.
 
G

Guest

Word is certainly not the best thing to use for HTML-but I gotta believe it's
far better than any text editing program like NotePad. I don't want to have
to enter HTML coding when I can have a program do it for me, as poor as it
may be. I just wish I could get things back to the way they were before the
upgrade, especially since no one can answer my question.
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cosber" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 200

Word is certainly not the best thing to use for HTML-but I gotta believe
it's
far better than any text editing program like NotePad. I don't want to
have
to enter HTML coding when I can have a program do it for me, as poor as it
may be. I just wish I could get things back to the way they were before
the
upgrade, especially since no one can answer my question.

Cosber,
When using Word to create web pages (as in most other things
in life,) it's simply not possible to "have your cake and eat it too."

Your option are that you either use the limited options that Word offers or
your work with the confined tools of your employers policies.

The Below from Cindy's reply to my inquiry:

"For these last, relative paths are supported (but only in relation to
Word's
current "active" folder, not the document), but until recently, you ALWAYS
had
to edit the field code to create them. Since Word 2000 (or maybe 97?), Word
will create a relative path for you, under certain circumstances."

With the above in mind?

I'd advise you to create a directory/folder structure on your working
machine which parallels your wesbites directory/folder structure.

Turn off some of the Word web options (previously advsied) and create your
Word HTML pages. With the created files being in the base folder of your
local machine which is comparable to your website. (Please note that the
actual position of the base folder on your local machine is irrelavant.)
It's only urgent that the directory/folder structure below that base folder
is comparable to the structure below your websites root folder.

Upload the pages to the website.
Check that the pages and links function.
If they do not, then edit the links with NotePad and reload the pages.

By html standards these are simple procedures.
Word users however and as a rule desire completed and functioning pages
served up on their platter. It's just not possible without comprehending
internet procedures.

If you neither have the time or desire to learn these procedures?
Than you should not be creating web pages, just my opinion.
 
C

Cindy M -WordMVP-

As one bit of supplemental information to "lostinspace's"
(Will? Robot? Penny?) reply:

In Word, you can edit the hyperlink paths by editing them
directly in the field codes. Press Alt+F9 to view the field
codes. Use Edit/Find to find HYPERLINK.

Can't tell you exactly HOW to modify them, however, without
knowing the folder structure (see lostinspace's reply)

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail
:)
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Just be aware that Word may come behind you and change your edited HYPERLINK
field codes.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
L

lostinspace

----- Original Message -----
From: "Suzanne S. Barnhill" <>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 200

Just be aware that Word may come behind you and change your edited
HYPERLINK
field codes.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
so
all may benefit.

Many thanks Suzanne for adding the precautionary note, however I'm afraid
we're wasting our time.
It's not likley that Cosber will make the transition from dealing with Word
to html and keep the two issues separate as I advised him previously.

"Cosber,
Once you have made the conversion from Word-Docs to html?
Html pages are straight text files with an html file extension.
These may be edited with any text editor. There are utility text editors
designed spefically for dealing with html pages and search and replace of
single or multiple lines either in a single folder or across multiple
folders."
 
G

Guest

Since there is no setting in Word to automatically change the links, I've
found that I can simply remove from the address field of the "Insert
Hyperlink" window everything in front of the main folder. That makes
everything relative.

Simple, huh?
 
O

Ottomated

Now try copying or moving that file, your links will break. This is
also happening for me in Excel.
 

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