WordPad Error Message: Cannot Find the File

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file with a long file name containing one or more spaces, you may receive an error message indicating that the file cannot be found. For example, double-clicking a file named "Long File Name.rtf" may generate the following error message:

   WordPad

   C:\<path to file>\long
   Cannot find the file.
   Please verify that the correct path and file name are given.

CAUSE

This error can occur if the "%1" variable is not assigned to the Open action for the .rtf file type.

NOTE: This behavior is not exclusive to WordPad. Other programs that use the "%1" variable in the Open action will generate similar error messages if the "%1" variable is missing.

RESOLUTION

Edit the Open action for the .rtf file type and add the "%1" variable. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.

2. On the View menu, click Options.

3. On the File Types tab, click Rich Text Format in the Registered File Types box, and then click Edit.

4. In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.

5. In the Application Used To Perform Action box, add "%1" (including the quotation marks) to the end of the line. Make sure there is a space between the end of the command line and the "%1" variable.

6. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem can occur if you install another word processing program that associates itself with .rtf files and you then change the association for .rtf files back to WordPad. When you do so, the "%1" variable may not be appended to the command line.