Microsoft KB Archive/140739

= WD: Long File Names Lost Transferring Between Macintosh and PC =

Article ID: 140739

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q140739



SYMPTOMS
When you save a file with a long file name from one of the Microsoft Word products listed above and then transfer the file to a different platform (Macintosh or MS-DOS/Windows) using the network or a floppy disk, the long file name may not be preserved.



CAUSE
Long file names may be truncated to a standard 8.3 MS-DOS format (that is, an eight-character maximum for the file name and a three-character maximum for the extension) for the following reasons:

 You may be using a version of disk-mounting software (such as Macintosh PC Exchange, MacDisk, or Mac to DOS) that does not support long file names.

NOTE: PC Exchange version 2.2 (bundled with Macintosh System Software version 8.1), supports long file names up to 31 characters.  If you use PC Exchange to transfer files from the Macintosh to an MS-DOS-formatted floppy disk, the files are truncated to an 8.3 MS-DOS file name that begins with an exclamation point. For example, a Macintosh file named

This is a test on the Mac

is truncated to the following when copied to the MS-DOS floppy disk:

!Thisisa.tes

 If you are using Windows NT or Windows 95 to save the file to a floppy disk, the file name is truncated to an 8.3 format and includes a tilde (~) character as the seventh character. For example, a Windows NT or Windows 95 file name such as this

This is a long filename.doc

is truncated to this:

Thisis~1.doc

  In Windows NT or Windows 95, you save a file with a filename that exceeds 31 characters. The Macintosh file system has a 31-character limit. If the Windows file name exceeds this limit, the Macintosh reverts to using the MS-DOS 8.3 filename. For example, in Windows NT or Windows 95, if you saved a file with the following name

This file contains more than 31 characters.doc

the Macintosh displays the following file name:

Thisfi~1.doc

 The network gateway does not support long file names. Network servers that act as gateways need to temporarily store files before they transfer the files to other network frame types. If the operating system of the server/gateway does not support long file names, the server/gateway stores the file using an 8.3 MS-DOS format. Because Windows NT supports long file names, Windows NT servers acting as gateways retain the original file name. Macintosh disk label names are truncated to 11 characters in Windows 95 and Windows NT. In Windows NT and Windows 95, disk labels cannot contain more than 11 characters. By contrast, the Macintosh system allows you to use 27 characters for your disk label. Note: When the disk is taken back to the Macintosh system, the full disk name is displayed.</li></ol>

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RESOLUTION
Obtain one of the following third-party software products that support long file name retention between the Macintosh and MS-DOS/Windows machines:


 * Mac in DOS by Pacific Micro (415) 948-6200
 * MacOpener for Windows 1.0 by DataViz Incorporated (800) 733-0030
 * DOS Mounter95 by Software Architects (425) 487-0122

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

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