How to open UNC path containg spaces in run dialog box
I've got a network location which contains several folders with spaces in them and want to be able to start a program by using Run and the program's UNC path. For example: open the run dialog box, put in \\itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe and program.exe starts. I'm fairly certain that the problem is related to the spaces in the name because I can confirm that it is neither a connectivity issue, nor a permissions one.
I have tried:
"\\itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe"
'\\itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe'
\\itserver\files\"IT Programs"\"Example Program"\program.exe
"\\itserver\files\'IT Programs'\'Example Program'\program.exe"
<\\itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe>
\\itserver\files\IT%20Programs\Example%20Program\program.exe
Also, renaming the folders is not an option.
EDIT: I fixed the error in which only one of the slashes showed originally in the file path by adding a third slash as well as clarified what I tried
53 Answers
The correct solution is to use double quotes like so:
"\\itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe"This should work for windows bases systems going back from XP to 8.1 (and possibly older - I don't have kit to test on)
Also, please note that you need a double slash before a server name:
\\server\share\folder\subfolder\file.exe
"\\" indicates a server
"\" indicates an object on the server (share, folder, file etc)
3Using:
file:////itserver\files\IT Programs\Example Program\program.exe
it worked! I have no idea what's going on, or why when using double quotes it produced an error message...
To run a file from a network share, you need to put a double slash before the server name or IP, not a single slash.
After you have done that, put quotes around the path.
Example:
"\\server\share\folder name\MyApp.exe"
instead of
1"\server\share\folder name\MyApp.exe"
