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Dos File Names

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    Dos File Names

    I am running A4v8 on an XP platform. All of our data is stored on a remote networked drive (NAS).

    When I use Alpha to connect to the NAS I get very strange DOS names for file folders that break the 8.3 length syntax. For example: A folder called "OurDocuments" used to be called "OurDoc~1" in Alpha4. Now it is called "Onezjx~1".

    If I look up the file folder in DOS through a DOS window it reports as expected, however, in Alpha it's completely different.

    Any idea?

    Rich

    #2
    Re: Dos File Names

    What does the command window DOS command show when you use the /x option?
    Al Buchholz
    Bookwood Systems, LTD
    Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

    Occam's Razor - KISS
    Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
    Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
    When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
    "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
    Albert Einstein

    http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Dos File Names

      This is normal. Alpha and DOS apps see anything longer than 8 characters as the first 6 plus ~1

      If there are other files of similar then you will see them as ~2, ~3 etc.
      Dave

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Dos File Names

        Originally posted by dpawley View Post
        This is normal. Alpha and DOS apps see anything longer than 8 characters as the first 6 plus ~1

        If there are other files of similar then you will see them as ~2, ~3 etc.
        I would agree with you but it is NOT in the 6 plus ~1 format. It's completely scrambled and without rhyme or reason.

        For example.

        A folder called: Arizona Graphics
        Is now called: AEZVAJ~1

        There are no similar folder names and AEZ... is not even close to the original name. The folder reports in a DOS window as ARIZON~1. Only in A4 does it scramble. I haven't tried the /x option in dos but will look it up.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Dos File Names

          Interesting....

          I had not done any detail research as what I described above is what I have experienced and observed. And everything I can find upon an internet search supports what I have stated above.

          Most of my support is on an old Windows98 system and this all seems to hold true. But when I investigated deeper, as I work with some Alpha on a reporting system that is on XP, I also see a few files exhibit the behavior you describe, second line code area below of the DIR command.

          An internet search has not revealed anything other than what I have stated above, although it would appear XP's convert use a modified algorythem.

          If in a command prompt window you use the /x switch with the DIR command you can see the short and long file names for the files.

          Code:
          Q:\apps\alpha4v3\partsys>dir /x partsys*.app
           Volume in drive Q is Data
           Volume Serial Number is 5403-45FB
           Directory of Q:\apps\alpha4v3\partsys
          09/30/2004  08:07 PM               411 PARTSY~1.APP partsys FAKE Copy.APP
          08/17/2007  12:04 PM               435 PA0C6B~1.APP PARTSYS FAKE.APP
          02/08/2007  01:18 AM            21,977 PARTSY~2.APP PARTSYS REAL.APP
          02/08/2007  01:18 AM            21,977              PARTSYS.APP
          08/22/2006  04:23 PM            21,961              Partsys0.app
          08/14/2006  08:58 AM            21,842              Partsys1.app
          03/09/2005  05:19 PM            20,376              Partsys2.app
          11/02/2005  11:44 AM            21,174              PARTSYS3.APP
          12/14/2005  10:02 AM            21,170              Partsys4.app
          01/26/2006  09:47 AM            21,314              PARTSYS5.APP
          01/23/2006  02:09 PM            21,376              Partsys6.app
          01/19/2006  09:14 PM            21,334              Partsys7.app
          01/13/2006  07:08 AM            21,247              Partsys8.app
          09/06/2006  10:25 AM            21,976              PARTSYS9.APP
                        14 File(s)        258,570 bytes
                         0 Dir(s)  37,073,547,264 bytes free
          Dave

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Dos File Names

            My dos /x results.

            Code:
            07/20/2007  02:08 PM    <DIR>          CBKHMA~J     cypress-softwa
            07/20/2007  02:08 PM    <DIR>                       	  abitibi
            07/20/2007  02:08 PM    <DIR>                      	  abrazo
            07/31/2007  03:29 PM    <DIR>                       	  abstrax
            07/20/2007  02:08 PM    <DIR>          AU5VA6~P     active-forever
            07/20/2007  02:08 PM    <DIR>                       	  ad-2-phx
            07/20/2007  02:09 PM    <DIR>                       	  adma
            07/20/2007  02:10 PM    <DIR>          AOI37S~K      adv-cardiac
            07/31/2007  11:21 AM    <DIR>                       	   affluent
            07/20/2007  02:11 PM    <DIR>                       	   against
            07/20/2007  02:11 PM    <DIR>          AOB7KO~L      alea-services
            However, there is one difference between this system and others. The NAS device where this structure resides in on a Linux SAMBA share and not a typical Windows box. It seems that Linux reports back the peculiar names. If I move the folder/files to a Windows box and check the Dos names... they report back just fine with the ~1 structure intact. Seems Alpha is not to blame but rather our NAS and the SAMBA share. I'll move my research to the Linux boards and see what setting I can find.

            Thank you for the help. I was not familiar with the /x in Dos commands so that helped me 'nail-it'.

            Rich

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Dos File Names

              Rich, I finally found an explanation: The excerpt below comes from a Microsoft Germany site article, it is very long but if you search for "Generating Short File Names" you sould be able to jump to it.

              Here is the link: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/tec...c13621675.mspx

              Generating Short File Names

              In Windows XP Professional, both FAT and NTFS use the Unicode character set, which contains several prohibited characters that MS-DOS cannot read, for their names. To generate a short MS-DOS-readable file name, Windows XP Professional deletes all these characters from the long file name and removes any spaces. Because an MS-DOS-readable file name can have only one period, Windows XP Professional also removes extra periods from the file name. If necessary, Windows XP Professional truncates the file name to six characters and appends a tilde (~) and a number. For example, each nonduplicate file name is appended with ~1. Duplicate file names end with ~2, then ~3, and so on. After the file names are truncated, the file name extensions are truncated to three or fewer characters. Finally, when displaying file names at the command line, Windows XP Professional translates all characters in the file name and extension to uppercase.
              Note You can permit extended characters by using the fsutil behavior set command. You must restart the computer before this setting takes effect. For more information about using the fsutil behavior set command, see Windows XP Professional Help.
              When five or more files exist that can result in duplicate short file names, Windows XP Professional uses a slightly different method for creating short file names. For the fifth and subsequent files, Windows XP Professional:
              �Uses only the first two letters of the long file name
              �Generates the next four letters of the short file name by mathematically manipulating the remaining letters of the long file name
              �Appends ~1 (or another number, if necessary, to avoid a duplicate file name) to the result

              This method substantially improves performance when Windows XP Professional must create short file names for a large number of files with similar long file names. Windows XP Professional uses this method to create short names for files on both FAT and NTFS volumes.
              Dave

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Dos File Names

                Just now have I observed the problem of unsupported "Dos file Name".

                Precisely when I create new directories in Windows Explorer, these last directories are completely hidden when I navigate within alpha4v8.
                So with the command "dir /x" I discovered that Windows XP don't create more short directory name in my NTFS volume.

                I have resolved with the change of this registry key:
                HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

                The parameter "NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation" must be modified with the value "0" (I have the value "1").

                To take effect, reboot.

                Important: the short directory name is created only for the "ex novo" newly created directories, the others created when the dot3NameCreation parameter was disabled, remain unobtainable.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Dos File Names

                  Originally posted by LucZan View Post
                  the others created when the dot3NameCreation parameter was disabled, remain unobtainable.
                  Does a rename of the directory generate a new short name?

                  Or does a new directory and a move of the files/subdirectories within it accomplish that?

                  Thanks for sharing. I guess there are sources other than the Alpha messageboard for information.. ;)
                  Al Buchholz
                  Bookwood Systems, LTD
                  Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

                  Occam's Razor - KISS
                  Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
                  Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
                  When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
                  "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                  Albert Einstein

                  http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Dos File Names

                    Verified.
                    I have moved or renamed this "hidden" directories without success but it has worked only the recreation of new directories.
                    I have adopted this simple procedure:
                    - I rename the "hidden" directory;
                    - I create, at the same tree level, a new directory with the same original name of the "hidden" ;
                    - I select individually all the files of the renamed directory and I copy (or move) all in the newly created;
                    - I delete the renamed directory (to avoid duplication).

                    Comment

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