How Windows Generates 8.3 File Names from Long File Names
ID: Q142982
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Windows 95
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Microsoft Windows 98
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Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
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Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
SUMMARY
Windows supports long file names up to 255 characters in length.
Windows also generates an MS-DOS-compatible (short) file name in
8.3 format to allow MS-DOS-based or 16-bit Windows-based programs to
access the files.
MORE INFORMATION
Windows generates short file names from long file names in the
following manner:
- Windows deletes any invalid characters and spaces from the file
name. Invalid characters include:
. " / \ [ ] : ; = ,
- Because short file names can contain only one period (.), Windows
removes additional periods from the file name if valid, non-space
characters follow the final period in the file name. For example,
Windows generates the short file name
Thisis~1.txt
from the long file name
This is a really long filename.123.456.789.txt
Otherwise, Windows ignores the final period and uses the next to the
last period. For example, Windows generates the short file name
Thisis~1.789
from the long file name
This is a really long filename.123.456.789.
- Windows truncates the file name, if necessary, to six characters and
appends a tilde (~) and a digit. For example, each unique file name
created ends with "~1." Duplicate file names end with "~2," "~3,"
and so on.
- Windows truncates the file name extension to three characters or less.
- Windows translates all characters in the file name and extension to uppercase.
Note that if a folder or file name contains a space, but less than eight
characters, Windows still creates a short file name. This behavior may
cause problems if you attempt to access such a file or folder over a
network. To work around this situation, substitute a valid character, such
as an underscore (_), for the space. If you do so, Windows does not
create a different short file name
For example, "Afile~1.doc" is generated from "A file.doc" because the long
file name contains a space.
No short file name is generated from "A_file.doc" because the file name
contains less than eight characters and does not contain a space.
The short file name "Alongf~1.txt" is generated from the long file name "A
long filename.txt" because the long file name contains more than eight
characters.
Additional query words:
4.0 lfn
Keywords : kbui win95 win98 winnt ntui
Version : 95 4.00
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo
Last Reviewed: January 27, 1999