Hyperlink that opens a folder on the server

[Guest]

Hi

I need to insert a Hyperlink in a FrameMaker 8.0 document that opens a folder on the server when clicking on it.

It would be really nice if the link worked both in FrameMaker and in the PDF-file...

1. Should I use the Hypertext function? If so, what "Command" should I use and exactly how should the url (or adress) look like?

2. If not the Hypertext function, then what?

Thanks

// Mike

[Arnis_Gubins]

Try using the "message openfile folder-path" format in the hypertext marker.

This should open the folder in explorer.exe

[Guest]

Well, after some more investigations it seems that I should choose the "Go to URL"-command and write the adress according to the
  \\folder1\folder2\nn formula.

However , if the networkadress gets to long it stops working (the 255-letter limit?).

Is there a way around this? I work at a quite large company with a deep folder structure that I can not change at all...

/ Mike

[Arnis_Gubins]

Mike,

FM's marker have a 255 character limit, so you'll be hitting that even sooner when trying to use pathnames that are 255+ characters in length.

The only possible workaround may be using Shlomo Perets' Timesavers tool. Since this does post-processing of the created postscript file, it is possible to use a pdfmark " /Launch /File (filename)"  to swap in the very long pathnames from a look-up file (filename). This will give the same result as "message openfile" operation.

[Arnis_Gubins]

Tip: when entering file paths in FM's markers use "/" instead of "\", otherwise FM may try to interpret some characters after the "\" as special FM ones.

[Guest]

Ok

This is a step to step guide to create a working hyperlink in order to open a network folder from FM:

1. Mark your text/word, rightclick, and choose hypertext.

In the hypertextbox:

2. Under "Command", choose "Go to URL"

3. After the pre-seted words "message URL" , type your network URL path exactly like this: file://folder1/folder2/folder3/folder4

OBS!  Note the path markers. Should be "/".      Not "\"

          Do not use any ENTER or soft-Enter anywhere in that box.

4. Press the "New Hypertext Marker" button to insert the hyperlink.

Thanks Arnis for your help.

// Mike

[ShoshF]

I've tried this solution, and unfortunately,  the link only seems to work from the Frame file. When I save the file as a PDF and test the link, it opens a browser/search engine instead of the network folder.

Has anyone found another solution?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

To get the PDF working, you'll probably have to invest in Shlomo's Timesavers tool as Arnis mentions in post #3. It does a bunch of post-production PDF tricks that FM can't do directly.