Long filenames truncated in shortcut

  • 3146164
  • 28-Nov-2007
  • 30-Apr-2012

Environment

Novell ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management Support Pack 2 - ZDM6.5 SP2 Application Launcher (NAL)
Novell ZENworks 7 Desktop Management Support Pack 1 - ZDM7 SP1 Application Launcher (NAL)
Novell ZENworks for Desktops 4 - ZFD4
Novell Application Launcher (NAL)

Situation

This is a limitation of the Microsoft API used to create the shortcut. If the NAL NT service is running, it is used to create the shortcut, and it does not have access to the user's mapped drives. In this case, Microsoft's MFC cannot verify that the path is correct, and truncates the name.
Long filenames truncated in shortcut
If a windows shortcut is created by NAL that points to a mapped drive, each part of the filename is truncated to 8 characters.

For example: a shortcut to X:\thisisalongdirectory\mylongfiles.exe would be created pointing to x:\thisisal\mylongfi.exe

Resolution

The following workarounds are possible:
1. Manually create the shortcut, and copy it in place using NAL
2. Use a UNC path
3. Use the directory/file short name, e.g. x:\thisis~1\mylong~1.exe

Additional Information


Formerly known as TID# 10089341