Filenames can be up to 36 characters long, plus 5 characters for a device name like "flp1_". I am not sure if the network device name has to fit within these 41 characters or if a device name like "n1_" can be added in front of the 41 or has to be part of the 41 characters.Giorgio Garabello wrote:I read with interest all your comments .
Surely it is a long and difficult change , but do not agree on some conclusions .
it is true that today there are no file manager capable of reading more than 32 characters long paths ... it could not be otherwise , how do you develop a program based on something that does not exist ?
I know very few file manager , I think that most uses qpac2..e most software accesses files via the menu extension..i sw but change are not that many ...
With regard to command DIR STAT etc etc ... there really someone use it yet ???
Obviously I'm good at talking but are not able to make these modifiche..per where my words are worth very little.
Giorgio
I had a look at the code inside my Q-Trans file manager. That does limit you to 36 or 41 characters mainly for two reasons:
(a) knowing that filename headers cannot have more than this number of characters in the present filing system - the program opens a channel to a directory and steps through the directory 64 bytes (one entry) at a time. (This is an example of how filename length is hard coded into the existing operating system).
(b) screen input boxes (e.g. to type in filenames) are limited to this maximum number of characters. QL screen INPUT does not pan/scroll to allow INPUT longer than the width of the window when it is a one-line INPUT box. (this is an example of how a practical limitation in software which is not directly related to the OS limitations might mean that the software would not cope even if the operating system was updated)
I'm afraid it is true that most software writers (even Tony Tebby) would have coded something into their file managers in this way (unintentionally) which prevents them from being used with longer filenames, probably even if some clever and devious way of "masking" long filenames from old software is invented.
I have always wanted our OS to support longer filenames, but I fully understand the reasons why it probably won't happen.