PRB: ERROR: <filename> Isn't a Valid File or Directory Name

ID: Q112531

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Delta for Windows, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Delta does not add files or directories with names containing an apostrophe ("'") or an at sign ("@") character to a project. When you attempt to add or join a project that contains a filename with an "@" character the following error message is given:

   addfile [/&f?] [/s project location] [/p project[\subdir]] [/t f|t|u|v]
   [/x] [/c "comment"] [/r [pattern]] [file(s)|directory(s)|pattern(s)]

When a filename contains an apostrophe, the following error message is generated:

   <filename> isn't a valid file or directory name

CAUSE

Microsoft Delta follows the file naming conventions outlined in the "Microsoft MS-DOS Programmer's Reference." Names and extensions may only contain letters, digits, and any of the characters in the following set:

   Ampersand ("&")
   Braces ("{") or ("}")
   Caret ("^")
   Dollar sign ("$")
   En dash ("-")
   Exclamation point ("!")
   Number sign ("#")
   Parentheses ("(") or (")")
   Percent ("%")
   Tilde ("~")
   Underscore ("_")

RESOLUTION

Avoid using the "'" or "@" character in your Delta project filenames.

MORE INFORMATION

Delta uses the "@" character as an argument when executing Delta commands. The "@" character is primarily used as the "@when" argument within the RETRV command.

An "@when" argument consists of one or more filenames or patterns followed by the "@" character and a file version. A project version number, project version name, date, or a date@time may also follow. For example, the "@" in the following command is used to retrieve version 1 of HELLO.C and place it in the C:\TEMP directory:

   RETRV /D C:\TEMP HELLO.C@V1

REFERENCE

Consult the Microsoft Delta "User s Guide" for additional information on the "@when" argument.

Additional reference words: 1.00 KBCategory: kbusage kbprb KBSubcategory: Delta

Microsoft KB Archive/112531

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