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
    2017-11-09T04:13:48+00:00

    You say that the suggested solution of allowing relative hyperlinks would result in broken links when someone moves a file, but that in fact is what happens in many cases with absolute links. I have a page that works on my computer, but after moving it to my server everything's broken.

    Word has never used anything except absolute links. Omitting the paths when you create them (which is only possible when you link to something in the same folder) doesn't change that. Word's absolute links don't break when you move the Word file to another folder on the same drive - or even on another drive - provided read access to the target folder is maintained. What breaks an absolute link (regardless of whether it's in Word or something else) is:

    • moving the document to a location from where it cannot access the target file;

    • moving the target file to a different folder (which is precisely what you're complaining about); and/or

    • renaming or deleting the target file.

    The same applies to anything using absolute links (e.g. the typical hyperlink). If you want to force Word to use the current folder as the absolute reference point, you could try setting the hyperlink base; just don't be surprised when other links don't work as expected...

    If you don't like the way absolute links work, that's tough. If you think MS should break Word for everyone else so you can use relative links instead, by all means post a suggestion at http://word.uservoice.com/.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-09T03:52:12+00:00

    Sadly,  your response isn't helpful either. You say that the suggested solution of allowing relative hyperlinks would result in broken links when someone moves a file, but that in fact is what happens in many cases with absolute links. I have a page that works on my computer, but after moving it to my server everything's broken.

    I understand that some people would prefer absolute links. It shouldn't be that hard to allow the user to choose one or the other. And if I manually enter a relative link, all Word needs to do is LEAVE IT ALONE.  Is that too much to ask?

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