Long File Names - Can't Access

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed

There was a thread about this back in March 2002, but the original
poster never did come to a resolution.

Basically, I've got some Word files whose names are way too long. As
a result, I can't access these files in any way - no renaming,
deleting, opening, etc. from within Word, Windows Explorer, or in DOS
prompt (though my DOS skills aren't the greatest).

Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks
-Ed
 
Is it the filename itself that's too long or the cumulative path? If the
latter, can you drag the file to a higher-level folder?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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all may benefit.
 
I'm pretty sure it's the file name itself - over 128 characters. I
can't drag the file at all. It's completely inaccessible.

-Ed
 
Basically, I've got some Word files whose names are way too long.
As a result, I can't access these files in any way - no renaming,
deleting, opening, etc. from within Word, Windows Explorer, or in
DOS prompt (though my DOS skills aren't the greatest).
Click to expand...

At a Dos prompt, try renaming them with a wild card.

For example, if your filename is

ridiculouslylongfilenameitseemedlikeagoodideaatthetime.doc

type at the Dos prompt:

rename rid*.* shortname.*

or

rename rid*.doc shortname.doc

If that doesn't work, you could try copying with a wildcard:

copy rid*.doc shortname.doc
 
I've tried to rename the file, with no luck. I'll try copying it though.

Thanks. Will post my results.
 
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