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Conference noted::windows95

Title:Microsoft Windows 95 ("Chicago")
Notice:Please read topics 1 to 22 before writing anything
Moderator:EEMELI::BACKSTROM
Created:Mon Nov 14 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2958
Total number of notes:19968

2830.0. "Force W95 name to be the DOS name ?" by TDCIS3::BOREL (If I don't meet you in this world ...) Thu Mar 06 1997 10:13

    Is there a way either to modify DOS name under W95 or force DOS name to
    be W95 long filename if entered in 8.3 format ? 
    I mean : I am under W95. I edit the filename field in an icon and enter
    FILENAME.EXT and I want the DOS name to be FILENAME.EXT.
    
    Any ideas ?
    
    Olivier
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2830.1TARKIN::LINBill LinThu Mar 06 1997 11:078
    re: TDCIS3::BOREL
    
    >> I mean : I am under W95. I edit the filename field in an icon and
    >> enter FILENAME.EXT and I want the DOS name to be FILENAME.EXT.
    
    I'm confused.  What DOS name does the above become?
    
    /Bill
2830.2DOS name = W95 nameTDCIS3::BORELIf I don't meet you in this world ...Thu Mar 06 1997 11:246
    I want the W95 name to be the DOS name (as an option, not always).
    At the end : DOS name = W95 name exactly as entered in the icon name field
    (entered in DOS 8.3 format off course).
    Hope you understand what I mean ...
             
    Olivier
2830.3No ideaWOTVAX::16.194.208.3::warder.reo.dec.com::sharkeyaWho am I now ?Thu Mar 06 1997 14:287
Bill, I think if you create FILENAME.TXT, the DOS name becomes FILENA~1.TXT

I don't know how to overcome this but I bet there's a registry entry 
somewhere.

Alan

2830.4QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centThu Mar 06 1997 16:275
There is, but if you change it, you'll have trouble in some applications -
all of the magazine articles I've read which discuss this say to leave it
alone.

				Steve
2830.5not clear what the problem isCHEFS::KOSKUBA_KKarel_the_cotton_fistFri Mar 07 1997 08:145
    If you enter "FILENAME.EXT" in W95, the DOS name will be "FILENAME.EXT"
    exactly as you want it.  I'm as confused as Bill in .1.  The best thing
    would be to answer the question in .1 - "What DOS name do you get?"
    
    Karel.
2830.6Interesting...snooty.uvo.dec.com::TRAVELLJohn T, UK VMS System SupportFri Mar 07 1997 12:2633
On a PC located near me...


In an ***otherwise empty folder***, 
If I call a file "new-text.txt" it gets the DOS name "NEW-TEXT.TXT"
This does not change as I extend the file name, "new-text-abcdefghijklmno.txt"
still has a DOS name "NEW-TEXT.TXT" 

Now, If I put another file with a similar name in the folder, things change.
"new-text-a.txt" becomes "NEW-TX~1.TXT" and 
"new-text-b.txt" becomes "NEW-TX~2.TXT" 
As should be expected, this does not revert back to "NEW-TEXT.TXT" if you 
delete one of the files. 
If you rename the remaining file to "new-text-abcdef.txt" the DOS name reverts
to "NEW-TEXT.TXT". Again expectable, there is no other file name to provide 
any conflict.

Further, if the windows filename contains a space, the DOS name will always be
different. e.g. "new text.txt" becomes "NEWTEX~1.TXT". 


The rule appears to be:    (have I missed anything ?)

If all characters are valid for a DOS filename, and the first 8 make a unique
name, use them as they are. If not, or if the filename contains any characters
that are invalid in a DOS filename, strip any invalid characters out and take
the first 6 characters of the remainder, add "~" and the lowest number that
makes the DOS filename unique. If all values 1 to 9 are already in use, use the
first 5 characters, plus `~number'.


	JT:

2830.7I tricked myself !TDCIS3::BORELIf I don't meet you in this world ...Tue Mar 11 1997 08:329
    Ok. I just tried on a system at work and it works the way you tell.
    But not the way it works at home. Must have changed something in the
    registry or somewhere else that did the trick. The problem will be now
    to remember what...
    
    Thanks for the answers
    Olivier
    
       
2830.8A little more explanationsTDCIS3::BORELIf I don't meet you in this world ...Tue Mar 11 1997 09:564
    As it is setup at home, W95 seems to consider the dot as a normal
    character but off course, it cannot use it this way in the DOS name.
    So when i enter a under W95 e.g FILE.ABC, i get a DOS name = FILEABC
    with no extension. 
2830.9BHAJEE::JAERVINENOra, the Old Rural AmateurTue Mar 11 1997 11:571
    I'm lost.
2830.10WRKSYS::THOMASStop, look and listenTue Mar 11 1997 12:286
    I'm also confused. Is the problem that you can't see the file extension
    under Explorer? In that case, you need to change the Explorer settings
    so that the file extensions of registered file types are displayed. The
    default is to hide them.
    
    /Rich
2830.11I remember...I think...NQOS01::nyodialin5.nyo.dec.com::BowersDDave Bowers NSISTue Mar 11 1997 12:535
I remember reading somewhere that there is a parameter that controls this: 
specifically it disables "tilda-ing" of unique 8.3 filnames. Methinks the 
source may have been windows magazine back in the early days of Win95.

\dave
2830.12Still don't understand the questionBHAJEE::JAERVINENOra, the Old Rural AmateurTue Mar 11 1997 13:1414
    re .8:
    
    8.3 filenames don't actually store the dot anywhere, it's just 8
    characters filename, 3 characters extension. However, under Win95, when
    you crate a file, anything up to the first dot _from the right_ will be
    considered the extension, all the rest the filename. Long filenames
    _can_ contain dots in the filename itself. So if you create a file
    called, say, a.b.c, it should appear with a DOS filename of AB~1.C.
    
    re .11:
    
    It should be controlled by
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControl\Set\FileSystem\NameNumericTail.
    
2830.13COOKIE::FROEHLINLet's RAID the Internet!Tue Mar 11 1997 17:257
.8> So when i enter a under W95 e.g FILE.ABC, i get a DOS name = FILEABC
    
    In order to "enter" a filename under Windows 95 you need to use a
    utility. Same under DOS to "get" a filename. So which utilities or
    commands did you use?
    
    Guenther (just curious to understand the important details)
2830.14problem fixed. thanks for your repliesTDCIS4::BORELIf I don't meet you in this world ...Thu Mar 13 1997 09:3717
    re .11
    
    That's right, I set this option in registry (No tilde in DOS name)
    I did it to avoid FILE~# name.
    Anyway, I think I'll solve my problem by keeping this option and use
    another mean.
     
    re .13
    
    W95 : click on icon to select it. click on its name to get the cursor
    blinking. enter the name. (ABC.DEF)
    
    DOS : open a DOS window. cd xxx . DIR .  (ABCDEF)
          or right click on icon->choose properties->DOS name
    
    Olivier
    
2830.15BHAJEE::JAERVINENOra, the Old Rural AmateurThu Mar 13 1997 10:2810