Why is "&" an invalid file name character

Question

I just received an error that my file had an upload error. I opened the file and the suggestion was to save a copy. I noticed the file name was "Meeting notes 4-22-12 & 5-12" and wondered if the & was the problem. I changed it to "and" and it uploaded fine. Changed it back and it gets an error. I'm pretty sure that has uploaded before with no problem. Why is it now? & is a valid windows file name.

Answer 1

The & (i.e. ampersand) is used by various programming languages as an escape character. In HTML it signifies that what follows is the code for a special character; e.g. &quot is used for ". Other languages have other purposes. In Windows graphic text it is used to signify that the next character should be underlined; &File displays as File.

It would appear that the language used by whatever is uploading your file may now use the & as an escape character in its syntax. If the ampersand passed muster previously, perhaps a different version treated it differently.

Answer 2

So then why when I rename and remove it. Does that fix the problem? Same with the comma file? And why is it displaying funky in word? And why is it listed here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2813150?wa=wsignin1.0

Anyway, it is working now after several moves and restarts of skydrive...which is not so much an answer...

Also, can you please tell me why every office file now has either yesterday's or today's date as the modified date. This is very frustrating as I do use this field from time to time to know files I haven't accessed in a while.

Answer 3

1. I have 10 other items that uploaded just fine w/ an &. So what's the deal with that?

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It would appear that the ampersand was not your problem after all.

Answer 4

I'm not quite sure I understand your answer. What do you mean by "whatever" is uploading my file. It is skydrive/office 365.

Plus, I'm having more issues now.

1. I have 10 other items that uploaded just fine w/ an &. So what's the deal with that?
2. I have a document that now won't upload because of "," in the name. However, there are 45 other items in the same folder with a comma.
3. I deleted these files (cut to a different directory). Closed Skydrive (b/c the error wouldn't refresh and go away...kinda a problem). Reopened and it was up to date. Added the comma file back and it didn't sync...so closed again and now it is up to date and the file is synced...great...but what is going on?
4. In searching for other & files, the one I moved is coming up in the location it was moved from, but if I try to open it it says it isn't there...but the search still shows it. How is skydrive messing up the indexing?
5. I tried the same thing with the & file, but moving and moving back doesn't work...still a sync error
6. When I open these files in office it is giving strange filenames in the title bar. The & is appearing as ^0 and the comma as ^J

Just noticed another problem. Many (if not all) of my office files now have today's date for the date modified. I just finished the first big sync (was changing over skydrive accounts to my one for the office 365 student). Why is this happening?