Problem with using file on network drive.

Question

I have just update everything....MacOffice Word 2008 to 12.3.4 and Mountain Lion to 10.8.2. I have a new iMac and a 2009 MBP and a networked drive. When I open the Word file (which has a password) on my MBP it is open fine. I then save it to the network drive so it can be accessed by either computer. I then close the file on the MBP and attempt to open it on the iMAC. A pop-up comes up to Convert File. It has quite a few choices. Have chosen Microsoft Word and Recover from Any File and both return an error: 

The XML file Filename.docx cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents.

Details

Incorrect document syntax

Location:  1

Then I delete the file on the network drive...connect to the iAC through Screen Sharing anad drag the file from the desktop of the MBP to the desktop of the iMAC and it opens fine. I then try doing the same (saving it to the network drive) from the iMAC and I get the same error messages.

What am I missing?

Thanks for any pointers you may offer.

Jim

Answer 1

Hi Jim:

When you "save" a file to the network after you have been working on it, Word holds a lock on the file until Word is quit.  Closing the file is not enough.

The "incorrect document syntax" error is a worry: it indicates that the save did not complete, or that the file you are opening is not the document (it could be one of the temporary files with a similar name).

However, if you have two computers networked together, you need one of them to act as the network controller and hand out a "Unique User ID" to "you" on each machine.  If neither machine is a server, they can't do this.  Chances are, they are relying on the default UUID, which is the same on both machines (501).  If you set the UUID to something other than 501 on ONE of the machines, the fault will possibly go away.

See here:http://osxdaily.com/2009/02/19/mac-os-x-change-your-user-id/

Warning: If you are not skilled with the command line, leave that one alone: there is a possibility of locking yourself out of your home directory.  Which is embarrassing! I know, I've done it :-)

Cheers

Answer 2

What's the name of the Server or Drive your sharing?

Check this:

Office 2011 has a bit of accidental PC code in that does not allow certain forbidden Characters. However; it so deep in code if they can't take it out without the whole application suite blowing up.

Some of the forbidden Characters are:

Numbers before names, Superscript/Subscripts, "  '  \ | / < > { } [ ] <<  >>

Numbers after Names are okay.  None of these character can be used in name of Hard Drive, Directory Names, and any File Names.

And on servers no names can have the name File or Fileserver  in any path names.

You can use _ (underscores).

Let us know if this is the problem.

There is another issue with Locked files, that could cause this issue with shared files.  One of the MVP's will have to explain that.

Answer 3

There is an issue with locked files that one of the MVP's will have to explain.

Next. There is an issue with forbidden files.

2011 has a bit of accidental PC code in that does not allow certain forbidden Characters. However; it so deep in code if they can't take it out without the whole application suite blowing up.

Some of the forbidden Characters are:

Numbers before names, Superscript/Subscripts, "  '  \ | / < > { } [ ] <<  >>

Numbers after Names are okay.  None of these character can be used in name of Hard Drive, Directory Names, and any File Names.

And on servers no names can have the name File or Fileserver  in any path names.

You can use _ (underscores).