ClearCase Remote Client (CCRC) fails to load a file if the filename contains a special character

why the error "Error: "java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\ccrcviews\dmmview\*.css.loading (The Handle is invalid.)"", might occur when loading an element into an IBM® Rational® ClearCase® Remote Client (CCRC) view from Microsoft® Windows® where the VOB is stored on UNIX® or Linux®.   Symptom

Cause

Windows does not allow names to contain any of the following characters: * | \ / : < > ?  Example pop-up appears on Windows XP when attempting to create a file with these characters: The following error is reported when loading an element into a CCRC view that contains a colon or other special character in it's filename: java.io.FileNotFoundException "Error: "java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\ccrcviews\dmmview\*.css.loading (The Handle is invalid.)"" The following are examples of errors that you would expect to see when running into this issue: Default config spec error initial load: Set view configuration... Problems performing ClearCase operation. Config spec change – update resource: Update resource error:

Resolving the problem

Rename the element using the cleartool mv command on the VOB server to a name that conforms to the Windows naming convention to allow your Windows clients to use the file. Review the ClearCase Administrator's Guide on the topic of Differences in supported character sets for information about characters that are allowed in filenames on UNIX or Linux that are not allowed on Windows.