Limit Filename Length freeware or shareware

[Kittie Spit]

I'm looking for a freeware [preferably] program or a shell etxension to
limit the filename length, as in open/save boxes when I download files.
I tend to add descriptive information to the base filename [which
includes version #, and a few keywords].

For example, resulting filename would be:

"Process Explorer for Windows NT-2000-XP-2003 vers 9.2 [freew
dependencies DLLS running tasks.exe"

Now, I've got to cut those filenames down to 60-64 for complete
compatability when burning to CD-DVD.

For this, I've been using "Long Filenames Finder" [freeware] which
gives me a list of all filenames in a folder [and subfolders] that
exceed the number of characters I specify.

Once identified, then in LFnF I manually rename. I can't really use an
auto-rename for length program to do this, since I want to preserve as
many keywords as possible, both for searching and clarity of program
name/version.

I've used freeware renamers, such as Bulk Rename Utility, which can
auto-chop the name to, say, 64 characters, or take out whitespace,
etc., but again, I really have to rename most by hand to meet the
character limit.

So, rather than going thru the above process, I'd like to head it off
right from the start: is there a utility/addon to limit my input of
characters in the Open/Save dialogue box, so that I'll get a warning if
I exceed a specified limit? Ideally, of course, the limit should be
customizable, so I can do 64 for regular CD, even 60 for older CD, and
much longer for other uses.

BTW -- I also use disk cataloging software to catalog what I have in my
software collections, but I really need something like the above, so
that I, and others who will be using the CD, can get info directly from
the filename itself.

Thanks!

 

[Colin]

Did you know that you could write long File Names to CD using BURN AT ONCE
freewae?
http://www.burnatonce.com/downloads/ freeware forNoncommercial use .
I use it to keep the LFN structure in place. You do have to set the correct
options to override the defaults..
Good Luck.
Colin

 

[Hengist_Ludd]

You -might- get a bit further with this renamer;
1-4a Rename
One of the best mass file renamers. free, e-mail ware

http://www.1-4a.com

Have you got a URL for "Long Filenames Finder," please?

 

[Kittie Spit]

Colin -- Thanks! I'll give it a whirl. Don't know, though, how
compatible it'll be with older systems that can't recognize a filename
over 60-64 characters. Might you know?

Thanks!

 

[Kittie Spit]

Hengist Ludd --
Here's the url for Long Finename Finder. It's way cool & I love it --
never seen another prog like it!

http://www.dcsoft.com/products.htm

Thanks -- I've used 1-4a renamer and others that can cut the filename,
but I really need something to limit the filename length when I save
files.

Thanks anyway.

 

[dave_test]

Kittie, I think you're right, Windows-readable CD's in general use
extensions to ISO 9660 called "Joliet," which have a limit of 64
characters

 

[Kittie Spit]

Dave-test -- Yes, you're correct. I also need to go a bit further and
limit to 60 characters for older systems -- like with Roxio UDF made
for Win98 pc's circa 1998. Bummer that I haven't found anything in the
way of my original post, something to limit my OPEN/SAVE input line
right from the get-go to a specified [and hopefully, customizable]
maximum number of characters.

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

I'm looking for a freeware [preferably] program or a shell etxension to
limit the filename length, as in open/save boxes when I download files. [...]
Now, I've got to cut those filenames down to 60-64 for complete
compatability when burning to CD-DVD.

It doesn't seem to be a common enough need that somebody already wrote
such a tool. But as you might have noticed, Demetris posted about a
new release of the OpenWide Common (File) Dialog modification program.

Try to ask the author (Luke Hudson) to add your length check. As he
is already subclassing that dialog he should as well be able to either
intercept the 'Okay' routine or to subclass the Edit box taking the
filename.

http://lingo.atspace.com

HTH.
BeAR

 

[Kittie Spit]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson -- Thanks I'' give it a shot.

KS

 

[Kittie Spit]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson -- Thanks I'' give it a shot.

KS

 

[Hengist_Ludd]

Kittie Spit,

Thanks for the URL!

I take it you mean, not a RE-namer, but something to stop you making
filenames too long in the first place...

 

[Kittie Spit]

To Hengist_Ludd: yes, exactly. Not a renamer, but a limiter from the
get-go, eg, for OPEN/SAVE dialogues. Something that will alert me when
I've exceeded X number of characters, ideally, customizable eg to 62
for certain CD burns, etc.

 

[Hengist_Ludd]

Kittie Spit,

There are a fair number of posts in the forums at DonationCoder.com about
dialogue extenders like Folder View and DM2 (and the shareware File-Ex)...
I don't remember anyone mentioning your particular problem, but it's
worth taking a look and maybe asking there.

 

[Kittie Spit]

Hengist_Ludd, thanks for the tip. Will do. If I ever find any such
thing as I'm looking for, will post results here.

Follow-up to this: I posted another question along similar lines, but
got no answers, It has to do with backup or burning to CD on an old
Win98 SE. My question, revised, is this:

is it at all possible to backup/burn in Win98SE with filenames
exceeding ~64 Joliet limit? I've been unable to find anything so far,
so am thinking it's not possible? I've tried BurnAtOnce, CDBurnerXP,
and a few others, as well as some freeware backup progs. All either
burn/backup and don't tell me the filenames have been truncated or else
give me the usual warnings/need to rename, etc. I've fiddled with the
settings in the above mentioned two programs, but nothing gives me over
64 characters.

So, am I correct in assuming I can't do this in Win98?

 

[Hengist_Ludd]

I have to say, I don't know; this is above my level of know-how. But, have
you consulted the CD-Recordable FAQ at http://www.cdrfaq.org/

Just thought of a kludge, which may not suit you. How about putting the
"real" >Joliet limit names into 4DOS DESCRIPT.ION files, so if the actual
filenames are truncated on burning, at least you have the full names
available? Ideally you need a burner that understands DESCRIPT.ION, or
else copy it complete.

 

[Kittie Spit]

Hengist_Ludd -- thanks for the info! I had read over the CD-Recordable
FAQ, which was very helpful with a lot of details on CD burning, etc.,
but it doesn't appear to answer my question regarding LFN over 64
characters in Win98SE & burn/backup to CD.

I had also investigated 4DOS, but the problem here is that I ideally
want the >64 char LFN's to be in the filename itself, not in an
descript.ion file.

I think what I'm asking here seems to be impossible, though I haven't
found a source that explicitly says this. I mean, reasonably, you'd
assume that most CD burning/backup progs would give you this optionm
were it available.

The only solution I can think at present is maybe to write in RAW mode?
Not sure if that'd work. The other possibility, which is even more
cumbersome, is to write to ISO and then backup/burn that. That's even
more time-consuming than say, just using Long Filename Finder and
manually editing LFN's to under 64. [I've also tried a bunch of
freeware renamers, as I think I mentioned before that can auto-truncate
to whatever length you specify, or take out whitespace, even one [can't
remember the name] that auto-truncates text to recognizable form/slang,
like "Document" to "Doc" or "Documents" to "Dox."

I'm posting my query to the forum over at CDBurner XP and to
BurnAtOnce. I think I know the answer, that this is impossible under
Win98SE, simply because it doesn't support the standard I'd like to
use, namely ISO Level 4, which allows up to 207 character length.

Anyway, I'll post my results here.

Thanks for all your help!
Kittie Spit