The document could not be opened for editing. A Windows SharePoint Services compatible application could not be found to edit the document.

After some troubleshooting, I found that the document library was created with multiple nested folders.

When we go to third or fourth level of the folder and try to edit any file with office application, we are getting an error – The document could not be opened for editing. A Windows SharePoint Services compatible application could not be found to edit the document. However if we try to edit the document uploaded on the root of the document library, we can edit it properly.

You cannot edit the office document once the URL exceeds the character limit 340. You can edit the documents only till URL path length is upto 339 characters. You can open the documents, you can upload documents but you can't edit them by right click on document and click on "edit in Microsoft Word". Even this behavior is same with non-office documents also like text documents.

Workaround:
-The only workaround possible is

- open the file directly from the folder, modify and save it as a new file.

Every time you need to save it as a new file. It wont allow to save in the existing file. Or, Move the file one level up and you will be able to do all the operations like edit,check-in and check-out too

The specified file or folder name is too long

You recive an error the "The specified file or folder name is too long" when you try to name a file or folder in sharepoint.

This also effects copying of files from explorer view to other location.

 

Resolution:

If the URL of your site sums to 256 + characters it is unsupported by IE6. we advise users to upgrade to IE7 to be able to do so according to KB  - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894630

 

Alternatively, user can navigate to explorer view and rename the file names to shorter names until the browser is upgraded.

The specified file or folder name is too long

You recive an error the "The specified file or folder name is too long" when you try to name a file or folder in sharepoint.

This also effects copying of files from explorer view to other location.

 

Resolution:

If the URL of your site sums to 256 + characters it is unsupported by IE6. we advise users to upgrade to IE7 to be able to do so according to KB  - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894630

 

Alternatively, user can navigate to explorer view and rename the file names to shorter names until the browser is upgraded.