Knowledge Base

FIX: Adding File Causes Error if Name Contains a Space

Article ID: 156454

Article Last Modified on 10/15/2002

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0a
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0a

This article was previously published under Q156454

SYMPTOMS

When you add a file to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe using the SourceSafe Explorer, you may receive the error message:

"<filename>
the above file name is invalid

where <filename> represents the first section of the name of the file you are attempting to add. For example, if the filename is "SOURCESAFE RULES," the error will read:

"SOURCESAFE
the above file name is invalid

You will receive this message if the following conditions are met:

You are running Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0.
The name of the file you are adding contains one or more spaces.

WORKAROUND

Choosing the OK Command button from the error dialog box will add the file to Visual SourceSafe. To avoid the error message altogether, you may use the Visual SourceSafe Command line:

SS ADD <filename>

NOTE: Make sure that the current project is the one to which you want to add the file before using the Command line.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Visual SourceSafe version 5.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create or locate a file whose name contains one or more spaces.
Open or switch to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0 running on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.
From the File menu, choose Add Files.
Go to the drive and directory where the file described in step 1 is located.
Attempt to add the file and note that the error message will appear. Choose OK from the dialog box and note that the file is added successfully.

Additional query words: long filename

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbssafe500fix KB156454