Windows – File name too long to copy but doesn’t say which one

filenameswindows 7

I was copying a bunch of files but wasn't able to copy some because there name was too long. Is there an easy way to shorten the names or can I at least know the path to where the file name becomes too long?

EDIT: by bunch of files I mean there are two directories each containing files and more directoris containing more files etc. I'm simply copying by ctrl+c

Best Answer

You can use Path Scanner to find the offending files. (Scroll to the bottom to Old Path Scanner)

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Windows cannot open directory with too long name created by Linux

Windows has maximum filename length limitations. If you can't rename by using the short filename, then you'll have to use the Unix/Linux shell on the server to accomplish the renaming.

At the DOS prompt in Windows, if you type "DIR /X" you can see the short filenames.

Windows – Filenames too long and Windows can’t open the files

Try substituting the path with SUBST.EXE. It comes with Windows:

C:\Users\shufler>subst /?
Associates a path with a drive letter.

SUBST [drive1: [drive2:]path]
SUBST drive1: /D

  drive1:        Specifies a virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.
  [drive2:]path  Specifies a physical drive and path you want to assign to
                 a virtual drive.
  /D             Deletes a substituted (virtual) drive.

Type SUBST with no parameters to display a list of current virtual drives.

What you want to do is substitute one of the folders down the chain for a drive letter:

 C:\>subst X: Q:\Dir1\Dir2\ProjectA\FilesForSomething\SomeotherDirectory\Blahblah\RootOfLongFileNames\LongSubdirectoryName1

Now the LongSubdirectoryName1 folder is accessed on the X: drive. When you're done with it you can delete your substitution with subst X: /D

If you need this all the time, then add it to your login script.

Another approach would be to map a drive further down the chain from wherever Q: is mapped.

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Windows cannot open directory with too long name created by Linux

Windows – Filenames too long and Windows can’t open the files

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