[cobalt-users] Re: Long file names and AppleMacs

[Johan-Kristian Wold <jkwold@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

In cobalt-users digest, Vol 1 #2228, Robb Masters wrote:
> I put a file on my Qube called: "BMP file with a ridiculously long 
> filename to see what an AppleMac will make of it when I put it on 
> the Qube.bmp"
>
> When I look at that directory from a Mac, I can't see the file. At 
> all. But PCs see it fine.
>
> Any idea what I can do to make it visible from the Mac?

The max length of a filename on a mac is 31 chars. Since the server 
doesn't know  how to truncate the filename - it won't show it either.

Use a PC, and cut down the filename to max 31 chars, incl. the 
extension. If it's a directory, the max length is 27 chars.

We have the same problem on a Solaris box, where I've set up a print 
queue that saves incoming jobs into the "in" folder of Adobe Acrobat 
(running as a daemon on Solaris). The problem is when you have a long 
filename, the resulting filenam becomes "A very long filen.ps" where 
the filename is truncated, so that the rsult +.ps becomes just 31 
chars. When acrobat then processes the file, it changes .ps to .pdf, 
which makes the filename too long for the mac to see. :^( The big 
problem is that Word will put "Microsoft Word - " before the document 
name when creating the print job name, thus almost always creating 
invisible acrobat files.

I'm going to sit down and make a small script for truncating down 
filenames to a length that the Mac will see (when I've got some spare 
moments). I'll post it to the list, but don't hold your breath 
waiting for it - I'm afraid you'll get a kinda blueish tint to yer 
face if you do :^)

Kind regards

Johan-Kr

--
Johan-Kristian Wold, M.Sc.     |
Computer systems administrator | Recursive: Adj. See recursive.
Nor-Trykk Narvik AS            |
jkwold@xxxxxxxxxxx             |                            SAM007HM02