OVERLY LONG FILE NAMES - as impediment to copying

I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily.

If the file saves to my C drive in Windows XP Professional,
I don't pay particular attention to the length of the file name
that I've used.

But in trying to COPY large files (e.g., a folder holding tens
of thousands of sub-folders, with 2GB of saved data), most
copying programs that I've encountered -- on 250 GB Maxtor
external hard drives, on 40 GB HP external hard drives,
on 2 GB Lexar flash drives -- not only will NOT COPY
a file with an overly-long file name, but they also TERMINATE
THE ENTIRE COPYING PROCESS INSTANTLY, merely on
hitting a single too-long file name.

Going into huge saved data files MANUALLY and MANUALLY
reducing the length of each long file name is impossible.

That's why we have COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMS:
to automate important but tedious tasks and processes.

I am hoping that someone somewhere has
AN AUTOMATIC FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM,
or subroutine -- that could be run through my entire C drive
prior to attempting to copy large files, or, even better,
that could be run ON-THE-FLY in conjunction with any
file-copying process, and that could truncate overly-long
file names on-the-fly, as they are encountered, to permit the
standard file-copying routines or algorithms to proceed
without stopping, and even without losing those particular files
with overlong names.

IS THERE SUCH A FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM?

If so, how can I get an operational version, both for XP Professional
and for XP Media Center?

I'd have thought that this sub-routine would have been the most
obvious thing in the world for MICROSOFT itself to have
incorporated into Windows.

But if it's available in Windows XP Professional or in XP Media Center,
I'm not aware of it.

From: "EverymanEndUser" <>

| I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily. |

< snip>

You posted this in WinXP General and in XP Security Admin. You Multi-Posted this to those
groups and not Cross-Posted it. That enough.

However, your posting it here is way off target and is indeed Off Topic. Please learn how
to post propoerly an in pertinent News Groups.

When you make a post to multiple pertinent News Groups where the subject matter is On Topic,
Croos-Post. Please don't Multi-Post.
Do not just make a post to any/every News Group you find !

My reply is in; microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

KINDLY DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE SOURCE OF A
RESPONSE THAT WILL BE TO THE POINT -- and I will not
post to multiple groups.

My display name should alert you to my lack of familiarity with
standard procedures.

You obviously think yourself a knowledgeable newsgroup
participant.

Just how knowledgeable ARE you?

Can you answer my question - regarding a FILENAME LENGTH
TRUNCATION PROGRAM?

Do you know anyone who can?

Can you suggest which newsgroup is most likely to include
someone knowledgeable enough to answer my question?

If not, your unelicited instructions are in no way justified.

EverymanEndUser




"David H. Lipman" wrote:

> From: "EverymanEndUser" <>
>
> | I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily. |
>
> < snip>
>
> You posted this in WinXP General and in XP Security Admin. You Multi-Posted this to those
> groups and not Cross-Posted it. That enough.
>
> However, your posting it here is way off target and is indeed Off Topic. Please learn how
> to post propoerly an in pertinent News Groups.
>
> When you make a post to multiple pertinent News Groups where the subject matter is On Topic,
> Croos-Post. Please don't Multi-Post.
> Do not just make a post to any/every News Group you find !
>
> My reply is in; microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>
>

Re-read Dave's reply. Carefully.

"EverymanEndUser" <> wrote in
message news:4784B8C9-7F1C-474F-B073-...
| KINDLY DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE SOURCE OF A
| RESPONSE THAT WILL BE TO THE POINT -- and I will not
| post to multiple groups.
|
| My display name should alert you to my lack of familiarity with
| standard procedures.
|
| You obviously think yourself a knowledgeable newsgroup
| participant.
|
| Just how knowledgeable ARE you?
|
| Can you answer my question - regarding a FILENAME LENGTH
| TRUNCATION PROGRAM?
|
| Do you know anyone who can?
|
| Can you suggest which newsgroup is most likely to include
| someone knowledgeable enough to answer my question?
|
| If not, your unelicited instructions are in no way justified.
|
| EverymanEndUser
|
|
|
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > From: "EverymanEndUser" <>
| >
| > | I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily.
|
| >
| > < snip>
| >
| > You posted this in WinXP General and in XP Security Admin. You
Multi-Posted this to those
| > groups and not Cross-Posted it. That enough.
| >
| > However, your posting it here is way off target and is indeed Off Topic.
Please learn how
| > to post propoerly an in pertinent News Groups.
| >
| > When you make a post to multiple pertinent News Groups where the subject
matter is On Topic,
| > Croos-Post. Please don't Multi-Post.
| > Do not just make a post to any/every News Group you find !
| >
| > My reply is in; microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin
| >
| > --
| > Dave
| > http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
| > http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
| >
| >
| >

I multi-posted rather than cross-posted because I was having difficulty
with the cross-posting option.

Even when Ilisted fewer than the limit number of groups to which
I was attempting to cross-post, I nevertheless still got the same
error message.

As a newcomer (and non-expert, as should be obvious from my Display
Name), I have no idea what's presently 'on topic' in any particular
newsgroup.

MY QUESTION IS ONE THAT POTENTIALLY AFFECTS ALL USERS
OF WINDOWS XP. It is NOT a parochial matter.

And I was seeking someone -- ANYONE -- sufficiently
knowledgeable to point me toward A PRACTICAL SOLUTION,
and NOT A REDUNDANT RETROSPECTIVE SCOLDING
about the use and mis-use of overly-long file names.

I'm AWARE OF the problem.

I CANNOT repair the prioblem manually.

And Mr. Lipman's initial miniature retrospective lecture
in no way pointed me TOWARD A SOLUTION,
ANY MORE THAN DID HIS TURF-SENSIVITY
ABOUT NEWSGROUP USAGE.

A problem that potentially affects everyone is worthy
of bringing to everyone's attention -- whatever their
newsgroup affiliation.

EverymanEndUser

"Tom Pepper Willett" wrote:

> Re-read Dave's reply. Carefully.
>
> "EverymanEndUser" <> wrote in
> message news:4784B8C9-7F1C-474F-B073-...
> | KINDLY DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE SOURCE OF A
> | RESPONSE THAT WILL BE TO THE POINT -- and I will not
> | post to multiple groups.
> |
> | My display name should alert you to my lack of familiarity with
> | standard procedures.
> |
> | You obviously think yourself a knowledgeable newsgroup
> | participant.
> |
> | Just how knowledgeable ARE you?
> |
> | Can you answer my question - regarding a FILENAME LENGTH
> | TRUNCATION PROGRAM?
> |
> | Do you know anyone who can?
> |
> | Can you suggest which newsgroup is most likely to include
> | someone knowledgeable enough to answer my question?
> |
> | If not, your unelicited instructions are in no way justified.
> |
> | EverymanEndUser
> |
> |
> |
> |
> | "David H. Lipman" wrote:
> |
> | > From: "EverymanEndUser" <>
> | >
> | > | I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily.
> |
> | >
> | > < snip>
> | >
> | > You posted this in WinXP General and in XP Security Admin. You
> Multi-Posted this to those
> | > groups and not Cross-Posted it. That enough.
> | >
> | > However, your posting it here is way off target and is indeed Off Topic.
> Please learn how
> | > to post propoerly an in pertinent News Groups.
> | >
> | > When you make a post to multiple pertinent News Groups where the subject
> matter is On Topic,
> | > Croos-Post. Please don't Multi-Post.
> | > Do not just make a post to any/every News Group you find !
> | >
> | > My reply is in; microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin
> | >
> | > --
> | > Dave
> | > http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> | > http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
> | >
> | >
> | >
>
>

Hi hehe yes you did question the wrong people. It seems like you have a tiff
with Maxtor and lexar and any other extrenal drive brands u got. Techniquely
and for sake of keeping sane I like to have small names for my files. Small
names dont take up much room and all together look very tidy small. Like say
I have info about my 2003 tax return I dont call it "this is my tax return
for 2003" insted call it 2003tax or 2003 tax return. There are problems with
computers and long file names, just like computers and viruses exist it is
out there. Could that file be largely stored. Like name of it typically wont
stop process normally, may it be too large of a file? Large files lag,
freeze, and reboot and or shut your computer. Could it be that there is
virus(es) hiding somewhere having fun canceling it? So many things to think
about.
To complain to or get answers from Maxtor cough cough hate maxtor visit
http://www.maxtor.com/
Lexar help site is located on http://www.lexar.com/support/index.html


"EverymanEndUser" wrote:

> I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily.
>
> If the file saves to my C drive in Windows XP Professional,
> I don't pay particular attention to the length of the file name
> that I've used.
>
> But in trying to COPY large files (e.g., a folder holding tens
> of thousands of sub-folders, with 2GB of saved data), most
> copying programs that I've encountered -- on 250 GB Maxtor
> external hard drives, on 40 GB HP external hard drives,
> on 2 GB Lexar flash drives -- not only will NOT COPY
> a file with an overly-long file name, but they also TERMINATE
> THE ENTIRE COPYING PROCESS INSTANTLY, merely on
> hitting a single too-long file name.
>
> Going into huge saved data files MANUALLY and MANUALLY
> reducing the length of each long file name is impossible.
>
> That's why we have COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMS:
> to automate important but tedious tasks and processes.
>
> I am hoping that someone somewhere has
> AN AUTOMATIC FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM,
> or subroutine -- that could be run through my entire C drive
> prior to attempting to copy large files, or, even better,
> that could be run ON-THE-FLY in conjunction with any
> file-copying process, and that could truncate overly-long
> file names on-the-fly, as they are encountered, to permit the
> standard file-copying routines or algorithms to proceed
> without stopping, and even without losing those particular files
> with overlong names.
>
> IS THERE SUCH A FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM?
>
> If so, how can I get an operational version, both for XP Professional
> and for XP Media Center?
>
> I'd have thought that this sub-routine would have been the most
> obvious thing in the world for MICROSOFT itself to have
> incorporated into Windows.
>
> But if it's available in Windows XP Professional or in XP Media Center,
> I'm not aware of it.

From: "EverymanEndUser" <>

| I multi-posted rather than cross-posted because I was having difficulty
| with the cross-posting option.
|

< BS snipped >

Did you erven READ my actual reply ? It was posted in XP Security Admin.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

Ogato88 Nov 23 2004, 10:48 am show options

Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
From: o...@altavista.com (Ogato88) - Find messages by this author
Date: 23 Nov 2004 06:48:46 -0800
Local: Tues, Nov 23 2004 10:48 am
Subject: Re: need to copy in dos with long filename support
Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original
| Report Abuse

Let me suggest that you use a file compressor that is compatible with
LongFile Names.
My choice would be ARJ271, or later version.
Also PKZIP has a version that is compatible with LFN's.

You can create a *.ARJ file that has your files of interest, from the
Source Drive, and preserves the LFN's.

After you successfully create that *.ARJ file then you can decompress
it onto your Target Drive.

The whole operation could be done in a DOS Window in Win XP.

The reason I say "in a DOS Window" is that is what I use regularly.
But I see no reason why it could not be done entirely within Windows
XP.

I use Win XP, Home Edition and since I grew up with DOS that is what I
like to use, for a variety of applications.

Cheers
-Ogato

We may well hold others (i.e., those outside Redmond, Washington)
responsible for such limitations.

Nevertheless, within the Windows world, all makers of external devices
and all applications developers tend to rely entirely, for matters relating to
file systems, on the Windows operating system.

This reliance may well be too complete, and too abject.

But it's a fact of life.

It would be far more efficient for the entire Windows world
were Microsoft to make filename-length adjustments
and batch file renaming capabilities available as simple, direct procedures
incorporated into Windows (as Internet Explorer and any number of
other components have been so incorporated) -- rather than expect
individual makers of external devices or individual applications
software writers to do so.

Could you recommend any professional backup programs
that might effectively permit automatic batch-renaming
of files, or automatic filename-length truncation (for file
names determined to be in excess, say, of 64 -- or possibly
even 32 -- characters)?

Would any such professional backup programs work effectively
with a Windows XP Professional system?

EverymanEndUser



"iamwhoiam" wrote:

> Hi hehe yes you did question the wrong people. It seems like you have a tiff
> with Maxtor and lexar and any other extrenal drive brands u got. Techniquely
> and for sake of keeping sane I like to have small names for my files. Small
> names dont take up much room and all together look very tidy small. Like say
> I have info about my 2003 tax return I dont call it "this is my tax return
> for 2003" insted call it 2003tax or 2003 tax return. There are problems with
> computers and long file names, just like computers and viruses exist it is
> out there. Could that file be largely stored. Like name of it typically wont
> stop process normally, may it be too large of a file? Large files lag,
> freeze, and reboot and or shut your computer. Could it be that there is
> virus(es) hiding somewhere having fun canceling it? So many things to think
> about.
> To complain to or get answers from Maxtor cough cough hate maxtor visit
> http://www.maxtor.com/
> Lexar help site is located on http://www.lexar.com/support/index.html
>
>
> "EverymanEndUser" wrote:
>
> > I tend to use long file names, so as to identify needed files readily.
> >
> > If the file saves to my C drive in Windows XP Professional,
> > I don't pay particular attention to the length of the file name
> > that I've used.
> >
> > But in trying to COPY large files (e.g., a folder holding tens
> > of thousands of sub-folders, with 2GB of saved data), most
> > copying programs that I've encountered -- on 250 GB Maxtor
> > external hard drives, on 40 GB HP external hard drives,
> > on 2 GB Lexar flash drives -- not only will NOT COPY
> > a file with an overly-long file name, but they also TERMINATE
> > THE ENTIRE COPYING PROCESS INSTANTLY, merely on
> > hitting a single too-long file name.
> >
> > Going into huge saved data files MANUALLY and MANUALLY
> > reducing the length of each long file name is impossible.
> >
> > That's why we have COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMS:
> > to automate important but tedious tasks and processes.
> >
> > I am hoping that someone somewhere has
> > AN AUTOMATIC FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM,
> > or subroutine -- that could be run through my entire C drive
> > prior to attempting to copy large files, or, even better,
> > that could be run ON-THE-FLY in conjunction with any
> > file-copying process, and that could truncate overly-long
> > file names on-the-fly, as they are encountered, to permit the
> > standard file-copying routines or algorithms to proceed
> > without stopping, and even without losing those particular files
> > with overlong names.
> >
> > IS THERE SUCH A FILENAME-LENGTH TRUNCATION PROGRAM?
> >
> > If so, how can I get an operational version, both for XP Professional
> > and for XP Media Center?
> >
> > I'd have thought that this sub-routine would have been the most
> > obvious thing in the world for MICROSOFT itself to have
> > incorporated into Windows.
> >
> > But if it's available in Windows XP Professional or in XP Media Center,
> > I'm not aware of it.

Please let me show, by example, the use of the ARJ archiver to copy a
fairly large number of files with Longfile Names (LFN).

I find a folder in the Windows section of Temp Internet files, where
Windows XP stores what it captures from Web sites.
There are 608 files in this folder, some with "horribly long names".
Here are a couple of examples from those 608,
====
08/06/2005 11:21 AM 3,555
homework_italian;svc=;site=italian;t=0;pc=1;fd=1;f s=0;sp2=0;a=;sbj=pid526;kw=;chan=homework;syn=abou t;tile=4;r=10;u=25jvqo411cqtrj;sz=728x91;ord=1586F KX05OkW[1].htm
08/09/2005 06:22 PM 4,893
homework_italian;svc=;site=italian;t=1;pc=1;fd=1;f s=1;sp2=0;a=;sbj=pid526;kw=;chan=homework;syn=abou t;tile=3;r=-2;u=25jvqo411cqtrj;sz=336x280;ord=1589MM12E20[1].htm
====

I used the ARJ32 archiver with the command:
ARJ32 a TEST22 STE7OPEF\*.*

Note: STE7OPEF is one folder in the Windows section of Temp Internet
files.

The result is the file TEST22.ARJ, the file that holds all 608 files
with LFNs.

I copy this file to an external ZIP drive.
My ZIP disk now holds TEST22.ARJ
then I create a new folder on the Hard Disk and I extract from the ZIP
disk onto this new folder.

Result: I have all the original files with their LFNs.
I could have taken this ZIP to another computer at another location and
there transfer all these files with their LFNs.

Best wishes,
Ogato