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Delete Long Name Files

We have a Windows 2008 Storage Server Standard edition. There are a number of PDF files I would like to delete. When I try to remove them I get a pop up indicating that the file name is too long and must be renamed and then deleted - cannot do either. Also tried the DOS route (Run as Administrator) but get the same error message. Any help would be appreciated.

dbrunton

Let's assume the files concerned are in

f:\folder_path\

Try at the command line

subst q: f:\folder_path

Then use Windows Explorer to access q: and try deleting. Once deleted then at the command line

subst q: /d

Generator

ASKER

This file is buried under 9 subfolders on a storage server - going to be difficult to use your method. Appreciate the feedback.

dbrunton

Still possible.

subst q: f:\folder1\folder2\folder3\folder4\folder5\folder6\folder7\folder8\folder9

In the diagram above I've got a long folder path in Explorer's address bar. You can cut and paste that into Notepad. Put quotation marks around the path and use

subst q: "Explorer path"

where Explorer path is the cut and paste.

Save the file as a batch file and run it.

ReneGe

Try this. Rather than renaming the file name, shorten the path where your file is.

So insted of C:\a very long folder\anotherone\the toolongfile.txt

change it to : C:\a very long folder\1\the toolongfile.txt

Then, you should be able to sither rename your file, move it or delete it.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Bill Prew

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nffvrxqgrcfqvvc

Here is how you can do it programmatically... If you have Office (Excel, Word) you can use a Macro...

'// Usage
DeleteFile "c:\long path to file here\somefile.txt"

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Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function DeleteFileW Lib "Kernel32" (ByVal lpFileName As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RemoveDirectoryW Lib "Kernel32" (ByVal lpFileName As Long) As Long

Public Function DeleteFile(ByVal filePath As String) As Long
  DeleteFile = DeleteFileW(StrPtr("\\?\" & filePath))
End Function

Public Function DeleteDirectory(ByVal dirPath As String) As Long
  DeleteDirectory = RemoveDirectoryW(StrPtr("\\?\" & dirPath))
End Function

Open in new window

Generator

ASKER

I would like to only delete a pdf file not a folder. The other methods mentioned above have not been successful. I have tried the Cancopy program but the file is not visible in the delete window.

ReneGe

Dont delete the folders. Just rename them shorter temporarly. And then once you delete your PDF, rename it back yo what it was. It did work for me.

Bill Prew

Thanks.

~bp