managing path lengths of files

[Guest Jonathan]

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!

[Guest Mark F.]

Re: managing path lengths of files

 

 

"Jonathan" <Jonathan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A3EDF6C5-FFC4-4BE5-8AB7-A000F9D14763@microsoft.com...

> 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