My Documents folder limitations

[Andy I.]

Hi,

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there was a limitation on the
number of subfolders permitted in the "My Documents" folder; or was it the
number of files in the "My Documents" folder?

I'd appreciate someone straightening me out on this.
Thanks.
Andy I.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Hi,

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there was a limitation on the
number of subfolders permitted in the "My Documents" folder; or was it
the
number of files in the "My Documents" folder?

I'd appreciate someone straightening me out on this.
Thanks.
Andy I.

65536, but long file names take up more than one entry. A subfolder is a
file entry.

 

[Andy I.]

Thanks Frank.

65536? That's an odd number,well maybe not, odd but unusual. Doe that
include the number of files within the subfolders?

Andy I.


: : > Hi,
: >
: > I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there was a limitation on the
: > number of subfolders permitted in the "My Documents" folder; or was it
: > the
: > number of files in the "My Documents" folder?
: >
: > I'd appreciate someone straightening me out on this.
: > Thanks.
: > Andy I.
: >
: >
:
: 65536, but long file names take up more than one entry. A subfolder is a
: file entry.
:
: --
: Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
: Do not send mail.
:

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there was a limitation on the
number of subfolders permitted in the "My Documents" folder; or was it the
number of files in the "My Documents" folder?

I'd appreciate someone straightening me out on this.

Several points:

1. The limit is on files *and* sub folders. A folder is treated as a
file in this regard.

2. The limit is not on the "My Documents" folder in particular, but on
all folders.

3. The FAT32 limit is 64K. The NTFS limit is enormous--large enough
that for practical purposes, there is no limit.

4. The FAT32 limit of 64K refers to directory *entries*, not files and
folders. Files and folders with long file names take multiple entries,
so the actual limit comes out somewhat less than 64K



the same

 

[Andy I.]

Thanks Ken.

One more thing.................. If a subfolder is treated as a file or
"entry", then is that counted as one file regardless of the number of files
within it? I'm thinking particularly of "My Music" and "My Pictures" which
are subfolders of the My Documents folder, and in my case are pretty big.

Andy I.


: On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:00:16 -0700, "Andy I."
:
: > Hi,
: >
: > I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there was a limitation on the
: > number of subfolders permitted in the "My Documents" folder; or was it
the
: > number of files in the "My Documents" folder?
: >
: > I'd appreciate someone straightening me out on this.
:
:
: Several points:
:
: 1. The limit is on files *and* sub folders. A folder is treated as a
: file in this regard.
:
: 2. The limit is not on the "My Documents" folder in particular, but on
: all folders.
:
: 3. The FAT32 limit is 64K. The NTFS limit is enormous--large enough
: that for practical purposes, there is no limit.
:
: 4. The FAT32 limit of 64K refers to directory *entries*, not files and
: folders. Files and folders with long file names take multiple entries,
: so the actual limit comes out somewhat less than 64K
:
:
:
: the same
:
: --
: Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
: Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks Ken.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

One more thing.................. If a subfolder is treated as a file or
"entry", then is that counted as one file regardless of the number of files
within it?

Yes (but one "entry," not one file). The contents of the subfolder get
counted separately.

I'm thinking particularly of "My Music" and "My Pictures" which
are subfolders of the My Documents folder, and in my case are pretty big.

Nope, not an issue.

Is your drive FAT32? If it's not, the limit isn't an issue at all.

Even if it is FAT32, 64K is a big enough number that people seldom run
into a problem.

 

[Andy I.]

Thanks again Ken. My drive is NTFS, so......."Here endeth the Lesson", I
guess.

Andy I.



: > :
: > : 3. The FAT32 limit is 64K. The NTFS limit is enormous--large enough
: > : that for practical purposes, there is no limit.
: > :
: : --
: Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
: Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Maybe 66535.
It's not an "odd" number for those who understand binary.
There are 10 knds of people in the world, those who understand binary and
those who don't.

It doesn't count the files in the subdirectory, just the name of the
subdirectory (which is a file).

 

[Andy I.]

'Fraid I'm among those people who "don't", Frank, but your statement "It
doesn't count the files in the subdirectory, just the name of the
subdirectory (which is a file)" finally clears up my quandary.

Many thanks.
Andy I.



: Maybe 66535.
: It's not an "odd" number for those who understand binary.
: There are 10 knds of people in the world, those who understand binary and
: those who don't.
:
: It doesn't count the files in the subdirectory, just the name of the
: subdirectory (which is a file).
:
: : > Thanks Frank.
: >
: > 65536? That's an odd number,well maybe not, odd but unusual. Doe that
: > include the number of files within the subfolders?
: