managing path lengths of files

[Guest]

Windows limits the path length of files to 255 characters or less.

Are there any tools to automatically warn a user when a file they create has
a path length that is over a certain number of characters?

For example, I would like to be warned if I create a file with a path length
of 220 characters or more.

I've been burned, a couple of times, with backup programs. Basically, I've
backed up files whose path length is close to 255. When I try to restore
such files, because the backup program may add an extra folder in which to
put its results, I get error messages that the path names are too long.

Thanks!

 

[Mark F.]

Windows limits the path length of files to 255 characters or less.

Are there any tools to automatically warn a user when a file they create
has
a path length that is over a certain number of characters?

For example, I would like to be warned if I create a file with a path
length
of 220 characters or more.

I've been burned, a couple of times, with backup programs. Basically,
I've
backed up files whose path length is close to 255. When I try to restore
such files, because the backup program may add an extra folder in which to
put its results, I get error messages that the path names are too long.

Thanks!

Not unless you have a script or other program that checks the path length.
If a backup software program is so poorly written that is doesn't check the
filepath length or other API exceptions, I would trash it for another.

Have you tried CD or DVD backups? Sometimes the burning software have backup
utilities and basically write the exact copy of the file / folder structure
to the removable (rewritable) media. Also, the Windows Backup utility
(Advanced Mode) allows you to backup your files the way you want.

I don't backup my entire hard drive. Only the "data" for my applications. I
have installation disks for repairing the applications as well as the OS.
Backing up everything is pointless and consumes too much media space (IMO).

Mark