DOS 8.3 Filenames

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Short pathnames were introduced by Microsoft to allow old DOS programs the ability to access long filenames. Normal Win32 programs almost always use full path names.

Thinstall only allows access to virtual files through the long filename form. Because of this, programs that call GetShortPathName() with a virtual file specified will receive back the full long pathname. In some cases this could cause the program to operate improperly.

Example Short Path mappings:

·	If file exists on the real filesystem:

GetShortPathName("C:\Documents and Settings\Subdirectory\File")

return value = "C:\Docum~1\Subdir~1\File"

OpenFile("C:\Documents and Settings\Subdirectory") -> Success

OpenFile("C:\Docum~1\Subdir~1") -> Success

·	If file exists on the virtual filesystem:

GetShortPathName("C:\Documents and Settings\Subdirectory\File")

return value = "C:\Documents and Settings\Subdirectory\File"

OpenFile("C:\Documents and Settings\Subdirectory\File") -> Success

OpenFile("C:\Docum~1\Subdir~1\File") -> Fail

If you need full shortpath name support, please contact support.