SharePoint: Microsoft Office Excel 2010 cannot create a new document with a long DBCS path

When trying to create a new Excel document from a document library using a Excel as the Default file type we receive an error instead.

Failed to access file. Please try:
- Check the folder specified does exist or not.
- Make sure target file or folder is not read only.
- File name or path cannot contain following letters: <>?[]:|*
- File name or path must be 218 letters or smaller.

This is related to URL length which can be exceeded by nesting the document within subsites, document library subfolders, etc.

You can work around this issue by starting Excel on the client machine before using the Create Excel document in SharePoint.

Note that with Excel the length limit is shorter than documented in the following article.

You receive a "The specified file or folder name is too long" error message when you create a new folder or a new document in a document library in SharePoint Portal Server or in Windows SharePoint Services
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894630

Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.