Email Error: "Can't create file : <filename>.PDF. Right click the folder you want to create the file in, and then check the properties on the shortcut menu to check your permission for the folder."


There are two likely solutions to this issue. The second solution should only be needed if the first one doesn't work.

1st solution:


You may receive the following error message when opening attachments in Outlook (such as PDF files): "Can't create file: File.PDF. Right-Click the folder you want to create the file in, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu to check your permissions on the folder."


Microsoft Outlook uses a temporary folder to save and open the attachments. By default that folder is:


"C:\Documents and Settings\%USER_NAME%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK#\" (where # is a random number) Some of the latest security updates for Windows 2000 and XP are preventing folders to be created in that folder. The solution is to use the regular TEMP folder. 


1. Use REGEDIT.EXE to locate the following key:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security

(Note: Depending on your version you may have to modify that path after the "Office" key. You may have folders 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, go the highest number. This is probably the version that you use.)


2. Modify the Key "OutlookSecureTempFolder", by replacing "Temporary Internet Files" with "Temp". For example:
OLD VALUE: "C:\Documents and Settings\tim\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK177\" 

(Note: There may be a different number than 177)


NEW VALUE: "C:\Documents and Settings\tim\Local Settings\Temp\OLK177\"


3. Restart Microsoft Outlook.


2nd Solution:

Outlook's OLK Temp file allocates a number to each file called "purchase" eg purchase01 purchase02 etc. However, this only allows for 99 files so when you hit the 100 mark you get the error message.

Just delete these files and it should work. Note: just deleting the Internet Temp files does not work because this problem is with Outlook files. Typically for DBA these would be under ..\Documents And Settings\<windows login>\local settings\Temp.