My Web Host for my church limits the file name sizes -- i.e. to 32 characters including the extension (.htm) which leaves 28 characters for the file name. Of course Windows lets you have more.

I would like to see a way of limiting the File Name size upon FTP upload and making the changes needed in the code by trimming characters off the file name i.e. I had a file name "720 Ford Ave - Owensboro Area.gif" which is 34 characters long and Windows and Web Engine doesn't have any problem with it but my host does -- not sure why. What I would like to see is a setting to limit the characters of the primary name upon upload to a user definable amount -- in my case 28 -- in my example above it would become "720 Ford Ave - Owensboro Are.gif" and the reference to that file would be changed to the new name in the code.

Thank you,

George

Limiting the length of a filename, or adjusting it to a fixed length, is not feasible to do during FTP.

If you have page links referencing pages more than 28 characters, and that page name is truncated, then the link would fail.

You need a method to limit the length of page names within SiteSpinner so all the page names and links agree.

BTW, who is your host? This is a terrible restriction.

To someone who routinely tries to keep file names to 12 characters or less, a 28 character restriction is very generous!

Does your host allow spaces and punctuation in file names? That can be a common cause of problems. I suggest don't use them unless you are absolutely sure they are OK.

quote:

Originally posted by larryd:
Limiting the length of a filename, or adjusting it to a fixed length, is not feasible to do during FTP.

If you have page links referencing pages more than 28 characters, and that page name is truncated, then the link would fail.

You need a method to limit the length of page names within SiteSpinner so all the page names and links agree.

BTW, who is your host? This is a terrible restriction.

Since my host provides the service for free to churches, I cannot complain too much.

The provider is called worthyofpraise.org and state in their instructions that file names cannot be over 32 characters. Their server is WebStar version 4.4 (MAC).

You are right once the FTP has begun, is a bad spot to implement this... the best place probably be at the time of import of the file where the local file name could be mapped to the truncated file name. The code would to implement this would be fairly simple. Or another solution is to have an option of file name length and if the file name is larger then the option set the display an error message please rename the file before you can open it.

George

quote:

Originally posted by Bruceee:
To someone who routinely tries to keep file names to 12 characters or less, a 28 character restriction is very generous!

Does your host allow spaces and punctuation in file names? That can be a common cause of problems. I suggest don't use them unless you are absolutely sure they are OK.

I remember the CP/M and DOS days having only 8.3 characters in the file name and was so happy when OS/2 came out with it's LFN where the file name could be more descriptive to anyone who looks at the file name. In my example above, in the DOS, I would have named the file TFAOWBA.JPG. Now that only means something to me but if I was to sent the file to anyone else they would have the open the file to see what the file contains so I find your self imposed 12 character file name very limited. With today's LFN, a file name should be descriptive enough to tell what the file is without opening the file. I have named a music complation file with a name that matched the limit of Windows.

In the email that received on how to develop the web site:

quote:

Please note that we do not support FrontPage extensions on our server for security reasons. Although you can use FrontPage as a graphic editor, please make sure that the file names are shorter than 32 characters total (including the file extension - e.g, ".html").

The wording is a little bit confusing in that it applies to all web editors and FTP clients. The limit is 32 characters.

George

This message has been edited. Last edited by: George,