Microsoft - Please fix Word's relative hyperlinks!

Anonymous
2013-03-30T16:05:59+00:00

Microsoft Office,

After too many hours of experimentation and working with your "level 2" tech support (Case no. 1201292910), I learned that relative hyperlinks no longer work properly in either Word 2007 or 2010 native (.docx) file formats (Both Windows8 and XP).  As of 2013-03-27 (or earlier) if these types of documents are saved with a new name ("Save As"), their hyperlinks get converted to absolute links as soon as they are saved - you'll see the full paths in their addresses when you view them in "Edit Hyperlink".  The only work-around that I could find (other than always using the same document name - and I'm not sure that will always work) is to save the file in the old (.doc) format.  (So far Excel doesn't seem to share this problem but I haven't checked the other Office apps.)

It seems to me that it would be nice to have the option of easily selecting either the "Relative" or "Absolute" hyperlink option when each link is created or edited.  But, at a minimum, the type of link shouldn't change when the document gets saved with a new name!

I'd greatly appreciate knowing that you have reviewed and understand what I have "said".  I've invested a substantial amount of time and effort in attempt to provide constructive feedback for the benefit of both Microsoft and its Office users.

Thank You!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2017-11-09T07:38:58+00:00

If anything, you used the hyperlink base - which I previously mentioned. That is the nearest Word has ever had to relative hyperlink support - it's even been described in MS doc as providing relative hyperlinks (which it really doesn't, but that's another story). It is still available. See: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Set-the-hyperlink-base-address-for-relative-hyperlinks-in-a-document-83a7b7aa-a3a0-4491-8575-1b0ca207f825

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Anonymous
2018-04-25T21:06:49+00:00

It 'isn't fixed' because it 'isn't broken'... Get over it.

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Anonymous
2013-09-14T14:39:48+00:00

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-29T12:58:15+00:00

    ARGH!!! This web option checkbox clearing has not worked for me in Word 2010, nor has the info here: http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread.php/154379-Word-Fields-and-Relative-Paths-to-External-Files

    I have a huge Glossary of Terms that has hundreds of links to other terms, using hyperlinks to bookmarks throughout the document. I also always save as Word 97-2003 Document, to preserve the links when I convert the doc to a PDF.

    This has worked fine in the document for five years, then the other day, I saved my doc and it turned all of my #bookmarkname links to absolute links, I manually went in and fixed every one of them, and when I Alt + F9 to see the field codes within the doc, they all show up as relative links: {HYPERLINK \l "bookmarkname" } so all should be fine, right? NOPE. See image - when I mouse over any link within the document, including the TOC, this is what it's doing.

    Of course, once I publish the file, it can no longer see my desktop, so every stinking link is broken!

    Can anyone help? PLEASE!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-27T23:22:32+00:00

    Great Help!!! This solved it for me. This has been driving me crazy since 1 computer worked and all others would change the links!!! I been searching for this magical info.

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