File name length (2003)

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I have a group of users that use file names that are too long. Out of this group one person is able to open the file despite its length. The others are not. All have the same rights to the folders.
I cannot convince the users that they need to shorten the file names even though the problem goes away as soon as they do. Is there a setting in Excel or in the Windows that allows to bypass the limitation of the file name length?
I am really puzzled by this problem.

Thanks for any help!

itconc

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Has the person who can open the workbook created a network connection to the folder containing the workbook? Using a drive letter that refers directly to the folder would shorten the path used to open the workbook.

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Thanks, Hans.
I mapped the users that could not previously open the file to the folder directly and all is well with them now. The team leader who has not had trouble opening the file did indeed map directly to the folder.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

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This is not just an Excel problem: files with a path and filename longer than 256 characters cannot be opened in either Word or Excel. Both applications (especially Office 2000!) may even crash when you try to double click such a file, causing you to loose your unsaved work you already had open in the application.

The only solutions I know of are:

1. Shorten the filename and/or path
2. Assign a drive letter to (part of) the path.

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