File Names to long?

JTAL604622 · 08-30-2011, 06:21 PM

I have a library and want to move it to portable from my local drive, however when i attempt to copy it via win7 it errors out with a filename to long message?

The Library works great on my local windows machine but I wanted to put it on my new 500gb portable drive, but I cannot get around this error....

Thanks,

Jonathon

theducks · 08-30-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTAL604622

I have a library and want to move it to portable from my local drive, however when i attempt to copy it via win7 it errors out with a filename to long message?

The Library works great on my local windows machine but I wanted to put it on my new 500gb portable drive, but I cannot get around this error....

Thanks,

Jonathon

where are you putting the Library on the portable (flash?) drive?
Since the Calibre Library can be many folders deep with long Author names and Titles, it needs to be close to the drive root (and that folder should be a short name also)

FizzyWater · 08-30-2011, 08:19 PM

I don't remember exactly which version it was, but I believe somewhere around 0.8.11 the filename length was shortened to 75 characters. It's why I'm still running 0.8.6. My library is currently deeper than that and I don't feel like figuring out where to put it.

wallcraft · 08-30-2011, 09:28 PM

From your description, the error is coming from Windows. The FAT32 filesystem, commonly used on portable storage devices, has a maximum file length of 256 characters. This is from the root to the filename extension, including all the \ characters, see Wiki: Long filename. So, as theducks said, the first work around to try is to shorten any folder names that appear before you get to the Calibre primary folder. From the wiki description, it might be the short name of each folder that counts, and if so then it is the number of folder's deep the Calibre folder starts from that matters the most. If your actual filenames (after the last \) are longer than about 200 characters then you probably are screwed. However, FizzyWater's comment suggests that they are likely not that long.

FizzyWater · 08-31-2011, 01:17 AM

I found where this came up before - read this thread for more details.

HarryT · 08-31-2011, 03:21 AM

If this is a new external drive and it's using the FAT32 file system, reformat it as NTFS - that should fix the problem.

08-30-2011, 06:21 PM	#1
JTAL604622 Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Sony 900	File Names to long? I have a library and want to move it to portable from my local drive, however when i attempt to copy it via win7 it errors out with a filename to long message? The Library works great on my local windows machine but I wanted to put it on my new 500gb portable drive, but I cannot get around this error.... Thanks, Jonathon

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08-30-2011, 08:19 PM	#3
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I don't remember exactly which version it was, but I believe somewhere around 0.8.11 the filename length was shortened to 75 characters. It's why I'm still running 0.8.6. My library is currently deeper than that and I don't feel like figuring out where to put it.

08-30-2011, 09:28 PM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	From your description, the error is coming from Windows. The FAT32 filesystem, commonly used on portable storage devices, has a maximum file length of 256 characters. This is from the root to the filename extension, including all the \ characters, see Wiki: Long filename. So, as theducks said, the first work around to try is to shorten any folder names that appear before you get to the Calibre primary folder. From the wiki description, it might be the short name of each folder that counts, and if so then it is the number of folder's deep the Calibre folder starts from that matters the most. If your actual filenames (after the last \) are longer than about 200 characters then you probably are screwed. However, FizzyWater's comment suggests that they are likely not that long.

08-31-2011, 01:17 AM	#5
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I found where this came up before - read this thread for more details.

08-31-2011, 03:21 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If this is a new external drive and it's using the FAT32 file system, reformat it as NTFS - that should fix the problem.

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