In Windows 7:
- Start notepad.
- Type some text.
- Save file => for file name, specify the text => Hello?
- Press enter or click Save. Nothing happens. No error dialog. Simply, the "Save dialog" stays open.
What gives?
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3 Answers
Windows supports using * to mean any number of characters, and ? to mean exactly one character; if you type a name in a file selection dialog that contains those characters it filters the dialog to only show files that match that name, so you can type "*.txt" and hit Enter to show all text files, or "test?" to show all files with the name "testX" for any X:
Before filtering
After filtering
You're telling the save dialog to show all files with the name Hello with one extra character at the end, which is probably none, but the dialog stays open either way waiting for you to actually choose a filename
answered Oct 9, 2010 at 6:34
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I tried this out. If you create a file on desktop and then in the filename you use the
*or?then Windows says "....a filename cannot contain....*...?...". But when you do the same from the File->Save dialog, Windows doesn't "say" anything. From the user's eye, it simply shows the dialog again and leaves the user wondering "what the hell, why isn't it saving". What's the deal with that?– ZabbaOct 11, 2010 at 6:04 -
@Zabba Right, for exactly the reason I said -- It doesn't think you're trying to save with that filename, it thinks you're trying to filter the dialog Oct 11, 2010 at 6:06
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But why? I'm simply giving a file name? If the file name is not allowed to contain some characters, shouldn't that be obvious? I'm confused here.– ZabbaOct 11, 2010 at 6:10
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1@Zabba Did you see the part about filtering? If you type a filename in a dialog that includes
*or?, the dialog assumes you're trying to filter the current list of files, and shows only files that match that pattern.foo*will filter the dialog to show all files that start withfoo, andfoo?will filter the dialog to show all files that start with foo and have exactly one character after it.foo??shows files that start withfoowith exactly two characters after it, etc. Oct 11, 2010 at 7:21
When you Save (or Save As), Notepad will go to the organize page.
Make sure the Documents tab on the left side of the page is highlighted.
Save the same file but but a number after it. (=ABC1) After that your computer should inform your about not finding any matches on your computer. (=No items match your search) Click save and the problem is solved.
