Re: Relative hyperlinks change to absolute when saving in Word 2003

So Cindy,
Am I correct to understand that this new version of Word makes all links
absolute and there is no way to change it? These hyperlinks are to other
pages in my manual-all Word docs saved as HTML. Since I have many folders for
the particular subjects in the manual, using the Hyperlink Base is useless,
unless I don't understand how to use it properly.

"Cindy M -WordMVP-" wrote:

> Hi Lostinspace,
>
> > The terms relative and absolute when attached to the
> > term "link" are established terms.
> > The procedures for implementing these types of links should NOT be dependent
> > on how a specific software decides to apply them. (Contrary to what MS
> > believes.)
> > Their use is not even Windows specific, rather the relative and absolute
> > terms are applicable across multiple OS.
> >
> > Any idea why Word, Office or MS have a compulsion to create their own
> > methods?
> >
> I can't speak for any Office application except Word, here... Whenever
> something seems odd, and contrary to "standard practice", it always helps to
> take a step back and remember that WinWord's core behavior was designed over
> fifteen years ago. Back then, in the early days of Windows-on-top-of-DOS,
> Windows was mostly standalone, or only very loosely coupled to a network.
> Things were so compartmentalized that even the idea of *linking* something in
> from another application was revolutionary. (Am I dating myself, here <g>?) The
> tools to actually do it didn't really exist, and were developed gradually, from
> the MS side starting with DDE, which was eventually replaced by OLE. In
> addition, Word picked up the ability to display information from files it could
> open using converters (documents, text, simple spreadsheets, graphics).
>
> For these last, relative paths are supported (but only in relation to Word's
> current "active" folder, not the document), but until recently, you ALWAYS had
> to edit the field code to create them. Since Word 2000 (or maybe 97?), Word
> will create a relative path for you, under certain circumstances.
>
> For OLE (LINK fields), an absolute path is always required. I don't know the
> reason why, but I suspect it might have something to do with performance hits
> if Word needs to start looking for the file.
>
> As to Hyperlinks and this particular absolute vs. relative option, I've
> discussed this a couple of times with MS folks, but have never heard a clear
> answer as to why this rather confusing behavior exists. What I think I know:
> - Word should create a relative path if the files are in the same folder
>
> - But if you then use Save As on the document, and the file it references is
> not in the new location, Word will switch to an absolute path (if this option
> is activated)
>
> - This can also happen if you move the document (but not the referenced file),
> then open the document
>
> - Getting it to switch back automatically is "iffy"
>
> - Originally, this behavior was designed only for saving as HTML, but in Word
> 2002 someone decided it really should apply to ALL links in a document. So it
> was changed without documenting it, and without putting the option in a more
> obvious place.
>
> - The "hyperlink base" (File/Properties) is supposed to help with sorting out
> relative/absolute situations, allowing you to specify a particular path for
> links, no matter where the document resides.
>
> ===
>
> The moving force behind the design decision is almost always "lots of people
> (may = big corporation customers) want it that way".
>
> And lastly, one always has to keep in mind that the people who make these
> decisions rarely work with Word at a "professional" level. They rely on
> feedback from various sources for their decisions, and sometimes they don't
> listen to the right people (or a wide enough range of people) :-)
>
> Cindy Meister
> INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
> http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
> http://www.word.mvps.org
>
> This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
> in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :-)
>
>
.