Article ID: 102739 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 2.1

Long Filenames or Paths with Spaces Require Quotation Marks

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This article was previously published under Q102739
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SYMPTOMS

The following error message is given when specifying long filenames or paths with spaces in Windows NT:
The system cannot find the file specified
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CAUSE

Long filenames or paths with spaces are supported by NTFS in Windows NT. However, these filenames or directory names require quotation marks around them when they are specified in a command prompt operation. Failure to use the quotation marks results in the error message.
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RESOLUTION

Use quotation marks when specifying long filenames or paths with spaces. For example, typing the following at the command prompt
copy c:\my file name d:\my new file name
results in the following error message:
The system cannot find the file specified.


The correct syntax is:
copy "c:\my file name" "d:\my new file name"
Note that the quotation marks must be used.
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MORE INFORMATION

Spaces are allowed in long filenames or paths, which can be up to 255 characters with NTFS. All operations at the command prompt involving long names with spaces, however, must be treated differently. Normally, it is an MS-DOS convention to use a space after a word to specify a parameter. The same convention is being followed in Windows NT command prompt operations even when using long filenames.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
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Keywords: 
kbother KB102739
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