Windows File Names
| Windows gives users 255 characters for a file name. However, the file name doesn’t just include the title you give your folder or file, it includes each subdirectory along the path and the filename! |
| Example of a Windows File path: C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Desktop\folder1\folder2\file.docx |
| In some cases you may encounter errors related to over-sized file names |
| Example errors: |
| Destination Path Too Long |
Occurs when moving files into a new folder where the new path length would be greater than the Windows character limit |
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| File Name Too Long |
Occurs when a new file name would result in the file path being greater than the Windows character limit |
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| Source Path Too Long |
Occurs when you attempt to import files which would result in a file path that is greater than the Windows character limit |
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Issues from Related to Over-sized File Names
| You’ll get a Windows error message like the ones above.
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| In some cases, you won’t get the Windows error. Instead you’ll get a message that just says “Cannot Copy”.
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| In some cases, your files simply won’t open or might cause errors when opening or closing.
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Another issue is that the file context menu(right click) won’t have as many options as other folders with acceptable file paths.
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How do you fix it?
| Shorten folder names or your file name!
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| Consider your use of folder layers – eliminating a folder layer entirely would save characters! |
Be cognizant about where your saving files. You might think saving on the Desktop will save space but the actual file path to the desktop will be C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Desktop or C:\Users\%username%\Desktop depending on your version of Windows.
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References
Suresh, V. (2013, August 08). How to fix ‘file path too long’ error while copying, deleting or opening files, without using third party applications. Retrieved from vimalsuresh website: http://vimalsuresh.com/2013/08/08/how-to-fix-file-path-too-long-error-while-copying-deleting-or-opening-files-without-using-third-party-applications/
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