# File and Directory Naming Conventions in FoxPro for UNIX

ID: Q118910

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft FoxPro for UNIX, version 2.6

In SCO FoxBASE+, you can work with filenames longer than the 8.3 MS-DOS filenaming convention (eight characters for the file's name and three characters for the file's extension). However, for cross-platform compatibility reasons, FoxPro for UNIX doesn't accept names longer than the 8.3 filenaming convention. Therefore, you may need to change the filenames and/or the code in your SCO FoxBASE+ programs in order to use them in FoxPro for UNIX. Note that in many cases simply shortening the filenames themselves will meet the need. The FoxBASE+ code can continue to refer to the long filenames and FoxPro will truncate those filenames to find the matching name in 8.3 format. For example, the code

       DO reallylongfilename

will work fine if the "reallylongfilename.prg" file is renamed to "reallylo.prg".

FoxPro for UNIX only recognizes lowercase file and directory names, so all directory names in the FoxPro path are in lowercase. Whenever a mixed upper and lowercase filename needs to be accessed, you can do one of three things: 1) rename the file in all lowercase; 2) provide a link to it with the SCO UNIX "ln" command; or 3) make a copy of the file.

Note that in selected FoxPro dialog boxes, only 14 characters of a file or directory name will be visible.

## REFERENCES

FoxPro for UNIX "Installation and Configuration Guide"

SCO UNIX and SCO FoxBASE+ manuals

Additional reference words: FoxUnix 2.60 KBCategory: kbprg KBSubcategory:

Last Reviewed: August 28, 1995 © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.