Lightroom
Filename Compatibilities
Filename Compatibilities
Filename Compatibilities
All digital files have to have a file name. You will notice that your camera names all the digital files in the format: XXXX9999.EXT or XXX99999.EXT. An 8 characters file name with an extension of JPG, TIF, CR2, NEF, PEF...
Why? Don't file names are pretty much unlimited? Actually not, and that depends on the operating system, Windows, MAC, OSX, Linux... They all have different rules:
Operating System / Medium Limit to filename length Windows 95 and ISO 9660 level 1 8 characters + period + 3 characters Classic Mac OS 31 characters (including the period and extension) CDs — ISO 9660 level 2 and 3 32 characters (including the period and extension) CDs — ISO 9660 with Joliet extensions 64 characters (including the period and extension) Windows 2000 255 characters (including the period and extension), full name including path must be less than 261 characters Windows XP, Mac OS X 255 characters (including the period and extension)
The filename should only contain:
- Characters A-Z, a-z, 0-9
- Underscores ( _ )
- Periods ( . )
- Hyphens ( - ).
This can be understood by all operating systems.
Do NOT:
- Use a period ( . ) or hyphen ( - ) as the first character of a name. It has special meaning in some OS.
- Use multiple periods. The period should only be used to separate the name from file extension: .JPG, .TIF, .PSD... Older CDs can read past 3 chars after the period.
- Use periods in directories. The period should only be used to separate the name from file extension: .JPG, .TIF, .PSD... Older CDs can read past 3 chars after the period.
Filename Compatibilities
All digital files have to have a file name. You will notice that your camera names all the digital files in the format: XXXX9999.EXT or XXX99999.EXT. An 8 characters file name with an extension of JPG, TIF, CR2, NEF, PEF...
Why? Don't file names are pretty much unlimited? Actually not, and that depends on the operating system, Windows, MAC, OSX, Linux... They all have different rules:
| Operating System / Medium | Limit to filename length |
|---|---|
| Windows 95 and ISO 9660 level 1 | 8 characters + period + 3 characters |
| Classic Mac OS | 31 characters (including the period and extension) |
| CDs — ISO 9660 level 2 and 3 | 32 characters (including the period and extension) |
| CDs — ISO 9660 with Joliet extensions | 64 characters (including the period and extension) |
| Windows 2000 | 255 characters (including the period and extension), full name including path must be less than 261 characters |
| Windows XP, Mac OS X | 255 characters (including the period and extension) |
The filename should only contain:
- Characters A-Z, a-z, 0-9
- Underscores ( _ )
- Periods ( . )
- Hyphens ( - ).
This can be understood by all operating systems.
Do NOT:
- Use a period ( . ) or hyphen ( - ) as the first character of a name. It has special meaning in some OS.
- Use multiple periods. The period should only be used to separate the name from file extension: .JPG, .TIF, .PSD... Older CDs can read past 3 chars after the period.
- Use periods in directories. The period should only be used to separate the name from file extension: .JPG, .TIF, .PSD... Older CDs can read past 3 chars after the period.
