Vista Files can be named with same name

The problem is that I am given no choices - Vista just saves it with the
exact same name and because I did not pay attention to where it was being
saved, I ended up with files with diff content with the same name.

Is there a way to set Vista up to prompt me for the 3 choices you have just
pointed out instead of just saving it without telling me where it will be
saved.

As to different versions, no, I really want to overwrite the existing file
with the amended content .

Thanks for any help you can give me on this

cb

"Toyman" wrote:

> Hmmm. My experience with VISTA is that when you save a file and give it the
> same name as an existing file, you're give 3 choices: 1) Replace an existing
> file; 2) Save changes with a different name; 3) Merge changes into existing
> file. But you already pointed that out.
>
> Otherwise, the duplicate file name can be saved in different folders (i.e.
> paths), as you pointed out - reason being so different software
> publishers/programs don't have to be aware of the file names of everyone
> else's files.
>
> In XP, it's the same, only superficially different, in that XP will save a
> (duplicate) file name and append a suffix to the name to distinguish it from
> a different version - perhaps a completely different file, but with the same
> name. Otherwise, even in XP, a duplicate file name can be saved in multiple
> folders - without the suffix - again, as you pointed out.
>
> I have to ask if you're more interested in saving different VERSIONS of the
> same file.
>
> Toyman
> ___________________________________
>
>
>
> "cb" <cb DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4956450A-8217-447A-8560-D3D1621C8316@microsoft.com...
> I know this has probably been discussed thousands of times, but i would like
> to know if there is any way that I can set up Vista to ask me if I want to
> name a file the same name as an existing file.
>
> I just did some experiments and Vista will allow me to name a file the same
> name as another existing file. The files having different paths is not
> helpful to me.
>
> This is causing me big headaches in my work product.
>
> I turned off hide extensions but that isn't helping me.
>
> I long for XP where it would always tell me if the conflict existed.
>
>

One way to 'find' the location of a saved file would be to click Start, then
Recent Items. If you see an item you want to look at, right-click on it &
choose Properties. That will show you the location of the file. If you
have many recently-opened files, it may not display them all - though I
believe there's a way to increase the number of files it will display.

I'm a bit confused about "Vista saves it with the exact same name . . ." If
you've chosen 'Save' (Ctrl+S), it should save the changed file, keeping the
same name AND leave it it the same location. An alternative way to save the
file is to choose 'Save As' (F12 key). That will give you the option of
changing the file name or location to anything you like. Just note the
different name/location.

I'm going to correct myself about 'merging changes into an existing file'.
That can be done within Office applications, or via a DOS command or 3rd
party software, but I suspect your interest isn't there.

Toyman
__________________________________


"cb" <cb.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77D0DD65-1E13-4781-85B7-9506F654EE5B@microsoft.com...
The problem is that I am given no choices - Vista just saves it with the
exact same name and because I did not pay attention to where it was being
saved, I ended up with files with diff content with the same name.

Is there a way to set Vista up to prompt me for the 3 choices you have just
pointed out instead of just saving it without telling me where it will be
saved.

As to different versions, no, I really want to overwrite the existing file
with the amended content .

Thanks for any help you can give me on this

cb

"Toyman" wrote:

> Hmmm. My experience with VISTA is that when you save a file and give it
> the
> same name as an existing file, you're give 3 choices: 1) Replace an
> existing
> file; 2) Save changes with a different name; 3) Merge changes into
> existing
> file. But you already pointed that out.
>
> Otherwise, the duplicate file name can be saved in different folders (i.e.
> paths), as you pointed out - reason being so different software
> publishers/programs don't have to be aware of the file names of everyone
> else's files.
>
> In XP, it's the same, only superficially different, in that XP will save a
> (duplicate) file name and append a suffix to the name to distinguish it
> from
> a different version - perhaps a completely different file, but with the
> same
> name. Otherwise, even in XP, a duplicate file name can be saved in
> multiple
> folders - without the suffix - again, as you pointed out.
>
> I have to ask if you're more interested in saving different VERSIONS of
> the
> same file.
>
> Toyman
> ___________________________________
>
>
>
> "cb" <cb.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4956450A-8217-447A-8560-D3D1621C8316@microsoft.com...
> I know this has probably been discussed thousands of times, but i would
> like
> to know if there is any way that I can set up Vista to ask me if I want to
> name a file the same name as an existing file.
>
> I just did some experiments and Vista will allow me to name a file the
> same
> name as another existing file. The files having different paths is not
> helpful to me.
>
> This is causing me big headaches in my work product.
>
> I turned off hide extensions but that isn't helping me.
>
> I long for XP where it would always tell me if the conflict existed.
>
>

Vista will not save a file with the same name as an existing file in the
same folder. The names are probably different in their extensions, and your
extensions are not currently visible, so the names appear to be the same but
they aren't.

If you saved that file with the same name and the same extension, you would
be asked whether you wanted to overwrite the existing file or choose a new
name. For instance, you could save a WORD document with a DOCX extension
(Word document) and with a DOC extension (Word 97-2003 document). They
would both open in WORD and they would probably look exactly the same, but
they would have different extensions and could both exist in the same
folder.

Make the file extensions visible again, and you should be able to identify
the problem.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

"cb" <cb RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77D0DD65-1E13-4781-85B7-9506F654EE5B@microsoft.com...
> The problem is that I am given no choices - Vista just saves it with the
> exact same name and because I did not pay attention to where it was being
> saved, I ended up with files with diff content with the same name.
>
> Is there a way to set Vista up to prompt me for the 3 choices you have
> just
> pointed out instead of just saving it without telling me where it will be
> saved.
>
> As to different versions, no, I really want to overwrite the existing file
> with the amended content .
>
> Thanks for any help you can give me on this
>
> cb
>