Cannot Create Folder or 8.3 Filename in All Upper Case (130598)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q130598

SYMPTOMS

A file or folder that you created using all uppercase letters is not displayed with all uppercase letters in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or in Windows-based programs.

CAUSE

For readability purposes, Windows displays the names of files and folders with only the first letter capitalized.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

To create a file name that will be displayed in all uppercase letters, include an extended character (such as a comma or space) in the filename. This creates a file name that does not adhere to the 8.3 standard, and causes Windows to preserve the capitalization of the filename as you typed it.

For example, if you create a file called FILENAME.EXT, the file name is displayed as Filename.ext. However, if you create a file called FILENAM,.EXT, the file name is displayed as FILENAM,.EXT. The comma in the file name causes the file name to be read as a long filename.

If you create a file name using mixed uppercase and lowercase letters, the case of the individual letters is preserved. For example, FileName.Ext is displayed as you created it.

Method 2

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Folders & Icons.
  2. Click the View tab.
  3. Under Files And Folders, click the Allow All Uppercase Names check box to select it, and then click OK. If "Allow All Uppdercase Names" is not available on Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, you may need to install the Windows Desktop Update shell. This components was included with Internet Explorer 4. For information on adding the Windows Desktop Update, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    165659 How to Add or Remove Windows Desktop Update

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The MS-DOS 8.3 file name standard describes file and folder names that contain a maximum of eight characters and an optional extension with a maximum of three characters. The MS-DOS 8.3 file name standard does not allow extended characters (such as commas or spaces). In Windows, long file names can include up to 250 characters, and can include extended characters such as commas or spaces.

MS-DOS, by default, converts all the characters in file names and directory names to uppercase characters. Because Windows cannot determine whether a file or folder was created with a previous operating system or was intentionally created with all uppercase characters, it was decided for readability purposes to have Windows display all 8.3 file names with only the first letter capitalized.

For example, if you create a file called FILENAME.EXT in MS-DOS, the file name appears in MS-DOS and Windows 3.x as FILENAME.EXT. In Windows 95 and Windows NT, the same file appears as Filename.ext in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, and in Windows-based programs.

Note that when you view files in a Windows 95 or Windows NT MS-DOS session, you see two file names for each file. The first file name is an 8.3 alias and the second file name is the long file name.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbenv kbui KB130598
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