BTW, any command typed into command.com is executed by cmd.exe.
why do i see 8.3 dir names after debug exits? i tought ntcmdprompt was
supposed to force cmd.exe to get control back, which i would think
would give a long file name prompt.
ntcmdprompt has nothing to do with it.
CD to any folder using long names and cmd.exe will go back to displaying
long names.
From your original post...
open an xp cmd prompt
type "c:" then "cd\program files"
the prompt is "c:\program files>"
now type "debug" followed by "q" to quit
the prompt is now "c:\progra~1" because command.com ran
OK, I pretty much did that.
Example below copied from cmd.exe, note that my cmd.exe starts at the C:\>
prompt.
-----------------
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\>cd program files
C:\Program Files>debug
-q
C:\PROGRA~1>cd C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop>
-----------------
If command.com were still in the picture, cd C:\Documents and
Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop would bring up the Too many parameters
error.
Example below copied from command.com, note that my command.com also starts
at the C:\> prompt.
-----------------
Microsoft(R) Windows DOS
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.
C:\>cd C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop
Too many parameters - and
C:\>
-----------------
CD to any folder and it will go back to long names. Cmd.exe can handle long
or short names.
Another example copied from cmd.exe.
----------------
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\>
C:\>
C:\>cd C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\STARTM~1
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\STARTM~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\STARTM~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\STARTM~1>cd C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P.
Vogel\M
y Documents\UTILITIES
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents\UTILITIES>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents\UTILITIES>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents\UTILITIES>cd
C:\DOCUME~1\
WESLEY~1.VOG\MYDOCU~1
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\MYDOCU~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\MYDOCU~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\MYDOCU~1>cd C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P.
Vogel\M
y Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents>cd
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.V
OG\FAVORI~1
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\FAVORI~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\FAVORI~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\FAVORI~1>cd C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P.
Vogel\D
esktop\Maltese Falcon
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop\Maltese Falcon>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop\Maltese Falcon>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop\Maltese Falcon>cd
%userprofile
%\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop>cd
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\LO
CALS~1
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\LOCALS~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\LOCALS~1>
C:\DOCUME~1\WESLEY~1.VOG\LOCALS~1>cd %userprofile%
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>
----------------
I think that you are worring about nothing. ;-) Cmd.exe will display in
long or short names, whatever has been typed in.
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In