Filename length - limits?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mel
  • Start date Start date
M

Mel

Recently inherited a notebook with over 8G of documents on
it. While backing up (copying) the files, I received
a "unable to move folder - destination filename is too
long" error.

The files were HTML pages - which have notoriously long
filenames. Funny thing - they opened up correctly on the
client machine - W2000 SP4, IE6.

Anyone know why the filename would be too long when you
try to copt it - and not to long in application use?

Thanks in advance,

mel
 
The system uses absolute path for copy/rename/delete, i.e. adds all the
nested (sub)directory names, and it could exceed 256 chars in length. You
can copy long named files from the CommandPrompt because cmd.exe uses short
names in 8.3 format or rename temporarily the tree structure.
Open file and copy/move it are two different things.
 
Jetro,

Thanks. I guess the limit is 256 characters. Strange, IE
and Explorer would both open the file (a web page), yet
the error was when it was copied to another drive
(network) location.

Thanks
 
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