File spec. size 1

[Bobby2004]

How big a buffer should be provided for file names including fully qualified path for portability under all versions of Windows. Is there any constant
available in the Windows SDK for this?

 

[Hypetia]

[tt]Const MAX_PATH = 260[/tt]

 

[Bobby2004]

Thanks. But I have one doubt - is this including the file name or not?

 

[Hypetia]

It includes complete file name and path.

 

[Bobby2004]

But the max for long file names is 256(?) so that leaves only 4 for path?

 

[Bobby2004]

I mean it sounds so inappropriate. Are you sure?

 

[Hypetia]

Yes I am sure. The whole file name (including path) cannot exceed 260 characters. If you create a file with long name (say 256 characters) you cannot move it in a deeper folder tree. It can only be created on the root directory. If you try move the file to a folder and the whole file name and path exceeds the limits, Windows denies this attempt and throws a file system error.

The complete file name together with the path MUST not exceed the MAX_PATH limit. This also includes the two spaces reserved for enclosing quotes (") used by Windows which means that the maximum limit to file name and path is 258 characters.

 

[Bobby2004]

Wow. Thanks.