Embedded Links in Outlook

I had this ongoing problem with creating a link in an email message to a network directory, and I decided to tackle it today. The problem is this: if you have a directory on your network that has a space in the name, Outlook would screw up the link.

For example, if you have a server called "Server1" and a share (shared directory) called "MyFiles", Outlook will put it properly into the message if you type:

"\\ Server1 \ MyFiles"

(Please note: I am separating the backslashes - "\" - with spaces to keep this blogger from thinking the link is real.)

If you click on it, you will get the directory.

The issue comes in when you have a share called "My Files" (with the space). You have:

\\ Server1 \ My Files

with the link messing up and ending at "My," which is right before the space.

The answer: Encase all links in Outlook with angle brackets ("<" and ">"), like this:

< \\ Server1 \ My Files>

This ensures it is embedded properly. Took a while to find this in help, but there it is.