What is the maximum number of characters a filename can be?

255 is actually a hard limit for filename length. If you try and put in more, the filename is truncated to the first 255. Not only that, the path+filename also cannot be more than 255 chars. I've run into this limit when I try to export filestructures from a document repository that doesn't have arbitrary limits. This is for win2k, haven't tested on xp or 2k3.

Bob, Thanks for the tip. You may turn off your capslock now. :)

The underline character is great to use for forcing my latest or hottest directories or files to the top of the directory listing in LIST mode. IE. ___DIR FOR CURRENT PROJECTS 7-15-05. TRY IT OUT - I USE IT ALL THE TIME. OF COURSE I ONLY DISPLAY DIRFECTORIES IN LLIST MODE, PREVENTING THOSE ANNOYING ICONS FROM CONFUSING WHAT I AM TRYING TO LOCATE. SUBMITTED BY BOBWAYNE@HIWAAY.NET

Great info, but your link to "Q. How to LFN's work?" points back to this page...

What is the depth for subdirectories in Windows also? 224?

cheers
Tom
www.tomax7.com

Even the chief Microsoft architect can be wrong, the information in the article is not quite correct: one CAN create a file on ntfs with a filename longer than 256 characters, and the filename CAN begin with a + - or other special character. Another question is if it is useful.

How about FAT-32? Is that what you mean by VFAT? I have been working with NT for a long time but I still remember that the 9x series could have long file names, more than 8 chars. Maybe I am wrong... Oh and whats with the ~1 thing at the end of directories and files when running older apps or console apps?