File name too long recurring big problem

[shokan2]

In Windows 7, I have the frequent problem of not being able to move some items in large projects from my main drive to a portable USB drive because of too long file name. It's a big problem. I tried moving in stages but this doesn't always work. Even worse, I often can't figure out where to correctly place these errant files in their new location. I can't shorten the file names (they aren't that long, sometimes only about 30 characters) because they must keep the original filenames. And the nesting setup must also remain the same.

Is there some utility that completely and easily eliminates this really nasty issue?

 

[Jacee]

See this discussion: File name too long cannot copy
Maybe something in there will help you.

 

[shokan2]

See this discussion: File name too long cannot copy
Maybe something in there will help you.

Thanks. As I thought, it's a limit in Explorer that has only one easy solution which, as mentioned in the OP, I am already using. That is, always assume some files won't go and make it a habit to move or copy in stages to shorten paths... for everything I move. Be good though if I could find something that somehow automatically circumvents Explorer's limit.

 

[LMiller7]

The problem isn't really a limitation of Explorer but with the API functions that actually do the work. These are conforming to a programming constant MAX_PATH that defines the maximum length of a path as 260 characters. For Windows 7 Microsoft could have changed MAX_PATH to 5000 characters and all such problems would simply disappear. The problem is that many (a very great many) existing applications assume that MAX_PATH is 260 characters and these would fail disastrously. Thus, MAX_PATH remains at 260 characters and isn't likely to change anytime soon.

This is just one example of an OS problem that cannot be fixed because it would break existing applications.

 

[MilesAhead]

You can programmatically create files with paths longer than 260. It's just that you won't be able to use Explorer functions, such as drag & drop. You may be able to find a file manager that doesn't host Explorer and does the drag & drop stuff itself. I don't know as I don't use file managers very extensively. I use FreeCommander for most things. I would search terms like File Manager 260 character path limit

etc..

see if you can find one that handles it correctly.

edit: I think as of XP the max file path is 8192 characters or thereabouts(and I believe on some systems it's close to 32 KB characters. Perhaps that's for UNC file paths. I don't recall for sure. Search MS if you need the numbers ) It's just getting software that totally side-steps Explorer.