Long Filenames in FPM Truncated to First 10 Characters

ID: Q112788

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.5b

SUMMARY

On the Macintosh platform, filenames can be more than 10 characters long. For example:

  DO thisisalongname && FoxBASE+ will run "thisisalongname.prg"

However, FoxPro for Macintosh automatically truncates long filenames to the first 10 characters.

MORE INFORMATION

To allow for compatibility between the Macintosh, Windows, and MS-DOS platforms, FoxPro for Macintosh is designed to truncate long filenames for programs (that is, .PRG, .MPR, .SPR, and so on) to the first 10 characters.

FoxPro can take advantage of long program names in the Macintosh platform if the long program name is in quotation marks or if an extension is specified with the long program name. For example, FoxPro will use the long program names in the following DO commands:

   DO thisisalongname.prg

   -or-

   DO "thisisalongname"

This design extends to long procedure names as well. Long procedure names are also treated as significant to the first 10 characters. During a search, if a long name is not resolved as a procedure, FoxPro for Macintosh will search the disk for a program with that name.

NOTE: Applications or programs created in FoxBASE+ for the Macintosh will most likely contain DO <long filename> commands without quotation marks or extensions after the program name because FoxBASE+/Mac is designed to accept long filenames and does NOT truncate them.

Additional reference words: FoxMac 2.50b long file names over length cut off shorten KBCategory: kbprg KBSubcategory:

Last Reviewed: May 29, 1996