KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q152166: XFOR: Attachment Name Truncated When Name Contains a Period

Article: Q152166
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage
Last Modified: 27-MAR-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you send a message into the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Connector
(IMC) or Internet Mail Service (IMS), and the message contains an attachment
with a name that contains a period and the content-type has an entry in the MIME
TYPES field, the attachment name gets truncated.

For example, here is a sample of header information:

   ...
   Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel; name="Excel 4.0 Test"
   ...

Application/vnd.ms-excel means that xls is added to MIME TYPES.

When the attachment is received in the client, the attachment name is "Excel
4.xls."

CAUSE
=====

When the IMC or IMS receives a message, it attempts to match the Content- Type
in the header to the MIME Types list. If a match is found, the appropriate .3
extension is added to the name if it does not already exist.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem:

1. Remove the associated Content-Type from the MIME Types property page. This
  will prevent the attachment from being associated with the specified
  extension but will allow the entire attachment name to stay intact.

2. To view the MIME Types tab in Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0, go to the
  Protocols Object (Site or Server). On the File menu, click Properties; MIME
  Types will be the last tab.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange versions 4.0
and 5.0.

We are researching this problem in Microsoft Exchange version 4.0 and will post
new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange 5.0 Server U.S.
Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the
following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

  S E R V P A C K

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbusage 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.