Uploading files to SharePoint containing the ampersand character

Question

I'm trying to upload files and folders to a library using SharePoint Designer 2007 (on a WSS 3.0 SharePoint site).

It's giving me an error when I try to upload empty folders or folders that have an & in their name.

OS: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008.

Can someone please assist?

Answer 1

Even easier, go to the site in question, go to the library, change the view to explorer view("View:" dropdown at top right of document view pane).

Then you can drag and drop the folder/subfolder/documents directly into sharepoint...maintains structure and will even allow empty folders

Answer 2

There are certain characters that SharePoint does not allow in the filename. Unfortunately the ampersand character is one of them! Here is a list I've found, I'm not sure if there's an official list somewhere:

char[] InvalidFilenameCharacters = new[] { '\\', '/', ':', '*', '?', '"', '<', '>', '|', '#', '{', '}', '%', '~', '&' };

Answer 3

In addition to the characters Alex Angas listed, SharePoint also doesn't support files and folders with Unicode 0-31, 127, or 129-159 in their names (mostly unprintable / invisible). Empty folders can be added in SharePoint Designer using the New Folder button, but they're ignored during import operations.

Answer 4

This is a list of characters that you cannot use in sites, folders, and files in SharePoint.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905231