File path length

[Paul Robinson]

Hi, can anyone help please?

A friend of mine owns a small business and is running XP with Office
2000.

I've had a look as she appears to be having back up problems, and it
turns out to be the file path extensions (or some of them ) are over
what I believe is the limit of 256 characters!

Is there any way of increasing the maximum length of the path?

Or is it a case of renaming the folders to shorter names, and will
simply renaming them solve the problem?

Many thanks in advance

Paul

 

[Bob I]

Yes, renaming paths will help.

 

[Dawn Crosier]

In addition to keeping the file paths short, it is also possible that
file names are being truncated. We have a rule that file names need
to be no longer than 60 characters. The dot and extension make for a
total file name length of 64 characters. Also, if she is using
*funny* characters in her names, then she may be having problems with
creating backups to CD's. Even though Windows / Word will accept
special character's, some cd burning processes will truncate right
before the special character. Characters we have run into particular
problems with include: {},# $ % . ( )

--
Dawn Crosier
Microsoft MVP
"Education Lasts a Lifetime"

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[Paul Robinson]

In addition to keeping the file paths short, it is also possible that
file names are being truncated. We have a rule that file names need
to be no longer than 60 characters. The dot and extension make for a
total file name length of 64 characters. Also, if she is using
*funny* characters in her names, then she may be having problems with
creating backups to CD's. Even though Windows / Word will accept
special character's, some cd burning processes will truncate right
before the special character. Characters we have run into particular
problems with include: {},# $ % . ( )

She's not using strange characters but quite a lot of gaps, and
repetitions ( I have torn what is left of my hair out explaining this to
her!)

E.G if she had a file that has the colour of the car seats (blue check
for example) she repeats the folder descriptions so it ends up,
C:\Ford\Ford escort\ford escort seats\ ford escort seats colour of\ ford
escort seats coulour of blue...........


you get the idea :-~

I may have to do some re-training (Help!)

Thanks for your help everyone