DOCUMENT:Q154279 04-MAY-2001 [ssafe] TITLE :PRB: Visual SourceSafe Status Truncates Filenames to 20 Char PRODUCT :Microsoft SourceSafe PROD/VER:WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,6.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Using the Visual SourceSafe Command line command "SS Status" to determine the checkout status of files only returns the first 20 characters of the filename. CAUSE ===== The SS Status Command line returns information in a columnar format. Because of the columns for Filename, User name, Date/Time, and checkout directory, there is a limit of 20 characters for the filename. When working with files that have long filenames greater than 20 characters, the filenames are truncated at the 20th character. RESOLUTION ========== An alternative is to use the short filename mode that displays the long filename using MS-DOS 8.3 filename conventions such as SS Status -NS. Although the 16-bit version of the Visual SourceSafe Explorer allows the use of long file names, the 16-bit Command line does not. STATUS ====== This behavior is by design. MORE INFORMATION ================ Be aware that Visual SourceSafe does not use the same method for converting long filenames as Windows 95 or Windows NT, so the converted Short filename as supplied by Visual SourceSafe may not match the filenames in the working directory exactly. Step-by-Step Example -------------------- 1. In a project ($/TEST), place a file with the name "New Text Document.txt," and check the file out. 2. From the Visual SourceSafe MS-DOS directory Command line, issue the following command: "ss status $/TEST" 3. The filename of the SS STATUS should be: NEW_TE~1.TXT. 4. From the MS-DOS prompt, perform a directory (dir) of the working directory (or the directory where the file was checked out). The resultant filename should be "NEWTEX~1 TXT" (Win95 or WinNT). Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 Technology : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSSafe600 kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe16bitSearch kbSSafe32bitSearch Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,6.0 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.