topic Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long" in AutoCAD Forum

Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2017 17:46:00 GMT

NEED Help

I cannot open some of DWG file. The error message is

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

kennyj — Wed, 03 May 2017 18:25:32 GMT

Hello @Anonymous!

I have run into this before; it appears the software includes the file structure in the folder name - so if you file is located inside a folder, inside of another folder, etc. each folder name adds to the total file name.

Try moving the file to the desktop to see if it will open. If it does, you may need to change your file names/structure as well as the actual file name.

(keep in mind this affects XRefs, too).

Hope this helps,

Kenny

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2017 18:53:02 GMT

This happens when people use entire sentences for directory names (with spaces and punctuation), those people should be knee-capped. There is no intelligent reason a directory name needs to exceed 10 or 12 characters. If I know the project number i don't need the project title, client name, address and eye color included int he directory name. We worked without issue for years with an 8 character limit. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

""Individual components of a filename (i.e. each subdirectory along the path, and the final filename) are limited to 255 characters,""

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

john.vellek — Wed, 03 May 2017 22:00:32 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Have you tried temporarily renaming the file to something like 1.dwg? If that works then you need to consider the filename as well as the filepath.

What is the current path and filename?

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

scot-65 — Wed, 03 May 2017 22:29:18 GMT

And yet another possible solution...

Map a network drive to the grandparent folder (or similar).
Then, select that network drive and browse to the file.
Double-click.

Example:
X:\test\your\knowlede\of\the\network\drive\for\AutoCAD\Projects\Files\Drawing1.dwg

Map a drive (Y:) to:
\\test\your\knowlede\of\the\network\drive\for\AutoCAD

The result:
Y:\AutoCAD

???

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

john.vellek — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:54:10 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long&

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:50:48 GMT

To resolve these issues for currently Windows versions or windows servers is a software named "LONG PATH TOOL", I suggest everyone a software “Long Path Tool“ which can solve all the long path problems.

Re: Cannot open a DWG File - Error message " The file name is too long"

cyril.john — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 06:20:33 GMT

Yes Bro its worked. thanks.