File name too long...

File name too long – Path too long

I’m extracting my purchase and I get a message ‘Error 0x8000xxxx – Path too long’

This issue is fairly common on Windows and is the result of overly long file name being extracted from an overly long folder name, in an overly long folder name, in an overly long zip file name, in my downloads folder, in my computer, on my ‘c’ drive …. Yes that was deliberately designed to be ‘overly long’, but that is actually in human terms what the problem is.

Let’s try to explain and find a solution, If you decide to ‘Google’ this it’ll tell you that the file path limit on Windows platforms is 256 characters, but in reality, it not quite that simple, so lets say it’s actually 128 characters, and your folder that Windows is trying to extract is like this;

c:\users\johnshomecomputer\downloads\TCW_PP_VOL_XI_Summer_Days_Toppers\TCW_PP_VOL_XI_Summer_Days\TCW_PP_VOL_XI_Summer_Days\01_Contact_Us_1

This ‘path name’ is 138 characters long, so Windows can read it, or create it in this instance.

This is all gobbledeegoop what language are you talking?

OK Look at this;