An 8.3 filename (also called a short filename or SFN) is a filename convention used by old versions of DOS and versions of Microsoft Windows prior to Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51. It is also used in modern Microsoft operating systems as an alternate filename to the long filename for compatibility with legacy programs.

Sometimes you need to use the short (8+3) path and filename on Windows. But how?

To find the short path name, try this...

1. Start -> Run
2. type "cmd"
3. get into the directory you need the short file name - ie: cd "long directory path"
4. type "Command".

To find the Short file name, when in the command prompt and in the correct directory...

1. type "dir /x"

For more info see

• Wiki - 8.3 Directory Names