DOS file names definition of DOS file names in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

DOS file names

On a disk, every independent collection of instructions or data is a "file." Programs, databases, word procesing documents, spreadsheets and graphics images are examples of files. All files have a name, and almost all files use an extension attached to the name with a period (no spaces in between) that serves as a file type.

The name can be from one to eight characters in length, and the extension can be from one to three. All executable programs in DOS use a .COM or .EXE extension. DOS batch files use a .BAT extension. Executable programs in Windows have an .EXE or .DLL extension. Valid characters are A-Z, a-z, 0-9, ! @ # $ % & ( ) ' ` - { } and ~. Look up extension for a comprehensive list.

DOS file names and Windows 3.x file names are structurally the same. Although, Windows 95/98 supported longer file names, names were often kept to the 8-3 convention for compatibility among all versions. For example, the following files make up the Windows version of this software:

      Name.Extension   Purpose
      CDE.EXE          Software
      CDE.INI          User preferences

      CDE.ABC          Main index + configuration
      CDE.NDX          Entry index
      CDE.PAR          Paragraph index
      CDE.TXT          Text

The Dot is Sacred
If an extension is used, it is added to the file name with a period, for example, CDE.INI.
As a result, the dot cannot be used in a file name. For example, CD.E.INI isn't valid in DOS. However, if you run a DOS session under Windows 95/98, then multiple dots can be used.

Note!
Directories are named just like files with a name and optional extension.

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No references found	You'll appreciate descriptive Mac file names (not 8-character DOS file names as in other clip art collections). World's largest clip art library for Mac and Windows debuts at $49.95 by Business Wire	DOS directory rules DOS disk recovery DOS Diskcomp DOS Diskcopy DOS Dos DOS Doskey DOS DoubleSpace DOS Dozen DOS drive identification DOS DRIVER.SYS DOS Drivparm DOS duplicate file names DOS Editor DOS EMM386.EXE DOS environment DOS error messages DOS Exit DOS Expand DOS extender DOS extensions DOS external command DOS Fastopen DOS FC DOS FCB DOS file DOS file names DOS filters & pipes DOS Find DOS Format DOS hidden file DOS high memory DOS HIMEM.SYS DOS Interlink DOS internal command DOS Join DOS key commands DOS Label DOS laplink DOS Lastdrive DOS Loadfix DOS Loadhigh DOS Md DOS Mem DOS Memmaker DOS memory manager DOS Mirror DOS Mode DOS More DOS Move DOS MSAV DOS MSbackup	DOS drive identification DOS DRIVER.SYS DOS Drivparm DOS duplicate file names DOS Editor DOS Edlin DOS EMM386.EXE DOS Emulation DOS environment Dos Equis DOS Erase DOS error messages DOS executable DOS Exit DOS Expand DOS Expand DOS Expand DOS extender DOS extensions DOS external command DOS Fastopen DOS FAT DOS FAT DOS FAT DOS FC DOS FCB DOS Fdisk DOS file DOS file names DOS file transfer DOS files= DOS filters & pipes DOS Find DOS Format DOS hidden file DOS high DOS high memory DOS HIMEM.SYS DOS history DOS Interlink DOS internal command DOS Join DOS key commands DOS Label DOS LAN Requester DOS laplink DOS Lastdrive DOS Loadfix DOS Loadhigh DOS Md DOS Mem DOS Memmaker DOS memory manager

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You'll appreciate descriptive Mac file names (not 8-character DOS file names as in other clip art collections).

World's largest clip art library for Mac and Windows debuts at $49.95 by Business Wire