DXARTS 411

Applications of Digital Technologies to Research in the Humanities

Tips on File Names

File Name Constraints

• For cross platform compatibility
• keep your filenames 31 characters or less [but preferably 11 characters or fewer]
• avoid putting / \ : * ? " < > | in a filename
• Search for offending characters on a CD you are about to burn [see more about ISO9660 compatibility]
• Put no more than one period in a filename and do not use a period as the first or last character of the filename.
• Be consistent about your use of capitalization. Random capitalization in html files on a UNIX server may result in dead links.
• Putting a comma or semicolon in a filename could cause major problems under various circumstances on any platform when working with lists of filenames and should be avoided.
• A space or percent sign may be a little safer, but for the web a %20 will be automatically inserted in place of a space. [The UNDERSCORE character is a good substitute for a space. "Spaces in file names are a form of evil."]
• If a user on one platform downloads part of a site hosted on another platform, links may break if spaces or % are used in names.

File Naming Advice for Large Projects

• Nine (9) files or more constitute a large project [but sometimes a few as three files can be a large project].
• Standardize all file names:
• USE lower case letters only [unless your project has special file naming requirements]
• PREFER '8+3' file names
• Devise a mneumonic system that will:
• KEEP file names short
• INDICATE adequately the (likely) contents of the file without your having to open it
• GROUP files with like or related content when generating a compterized listing
• REMEMBER: taking time to analyze your data and developing an appropriate file naming sytem will (1) avoid seeable and unforeseen problems and (2) greatly facilitate your progress

fnames.html (10/05)