What is the ~$ sysbol before a file name?

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Guest

I always thought it meant that the file was open but now I am seeing it for
files that are definitely not open. What does it mean? Thank you.
 
Do they have a .dot extension?
These are temporary Word files which are visible if you have show hidden files on.
Word creates a lot of temporary files. The ~$ before the file are associated with add
ins I have with Word.
 
The $ sign when placed first is a special character but what this means
is beyond my understanding.
http://dbwww.essc.psu.edu/lasdoc/tae/programmer/tclp_3_2.html

The $ sign I suspect is an invalid character if placed elsewhere in a
file name.

The character is used for the Windows Update uninstall folders in the
Windows folder.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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TaurArian,
Thanks, They are word files but .doc not .dot. I also have a few that are
WRLxxx.tmp. How do I turn off the show hidden files? Is it under
Tools>Options> in My computer or explorer? Thanks.
 
Hi, Vicky.

For questions about Word and its documents, you might have better luck
asking the Word gurus who hang out in one of the several Word newsgroups.
You might want to start with: microsoft.public.word.docmanagement

In Folder Options | View are many settings that we can change. One is to
Show hidden files and folders.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
 
[[Owner File (Same Directory as Source File):
When a previously saved file is opened for editing, printing, or review,
Word creates a temporary file with a .doc file name extension that begins
with a tilde "~" followed by a dollar sign "$" followed by the remainder of
the original file name. This temporary file holds the logon name of person
opening the file and is known as the "owner file." ]]
From...
Description of how Word creates temporary files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;211632

Like this...
~$scription of how Word creates temporary files.doc
Description of how Word creates temporary files.doc

~wrlxxxx.tmp are temporary Office Clipboard files.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Wouldn't this temporary file only be available when the file is open for
editing, printing or reviewing and once it is closed it disappears? That is
how I thought it worked in the past but now I seem to have these temp files
hanging around even after all files are closed.

Wesley Vogel said:
[[Owner File (Same Directory as Source File):
When a previously saved file is opened for editing, printing, or review,
Word creates a temporary file with a .doc file name extension that begins
with a tilde "~" followed by a dollar sign "$" followed by the remainder of
the original file name. This temporary file holds the logon name of person
opening the file and is known as the "owner file." ]]
From...
Description of how Word creates temporary files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;211632

Like this...
~$scription of how Word creates temporary files.doc
Description of how Word creates temporary files.doc

~wrlxxxx.tmp are temporary Office Clipboard files.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Vicky said:
TaurArian,
Thanks, They are word files but .doc not .dot. I also have a few that are
WRLxxx.tmp. How do I turn off the show hidden files? Is it under
Tools>Options> in My computer or explorer? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Depends on *which* temporary file you're talking about and if Word crashed
or not.

If Word is shut down improperly (crashes), the temporary files do not get
deleted. You'll also find a ~$Normal.dot in %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
that gets deleted after you open Word again and select which saved version
of the doc that was being worked on when Word crashed.

Crash Word, do a Search for *~ and you'll find all kinds of files left over.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Vicky said:
Wouldn't this temporary file only be available when the file is open for
editing, printing or reviewing and once it is closed it disappears? That
is how I thought it worked in the past but now I seem to have these temp
files hanging around even after all files are closed.

Wesley Vogel said:
[[Owner File (Same Directory as Source File):
When a previously saved file is opened for editing, printing, or review,
Word creates a temporary file with a .doc file name extension that begins
with a tilde "~" followed by a dollar sign "$" followed by the remainder
of the original file name. This temporary file holds the logon name of
person opening the file and is known as the "owner file." ]]
From...
Description of how Word creates temporary files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;211632

Like this...
~$scription of how Word creates temporary files.doc
Description of how Word creates temporary files.doc

~wrlxxxx.tmp are temporary Office Clipboard files.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Vicky said:
TaurArian,
Thanks, They are word files but .doc not .dot. I also have a few that
are WRLxxx.tmp. How do I turn off the show hidden files? Is it under
Tools>Options> in My computer or explorer? Thanks.

:

Do they have a .dot extension?
These are temporary Word files which are visible if you have show
hidden files on. Word creates a lot of temporary files. The ~$ before
the file are associated with add ins I have with Word.


I always thought it meant that the file was open but now I am seeing
it for files that are definitely not open. What does it mean?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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