Folder Naming in Windows

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Yugatha
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:20 am
Location: The Land Down Under

Folder Naming in Windows

Post by Yugatha »

Hey,

So I've run into a problem that this program can create on a Windows computer if you aren't careful. Basically, in Windows, when you name a folder, it deletes any trailing spaces after it, reducing it down to non-space characters, for whatever reason (though purely logical, and I understand why). However, when naming the folder using MakeMKV simply typing the directory yourself, it doesn't remove any trailing spaces, and because it is created that way, Windows doesn't get rid of them either. So you end up with a folder with the potential for trailing spaces.

Now, this is where it gets fun. You can open the folder in Windows Explorer without a problem. But, when you go to open a file inside it, it states "The file ___ does not exist", so you can't open it. You can't rename it, because Windows kind of treats it as te non-trailing space folder, though the folder may, in-fact, contain trailing spaces. So you can't rename it, can't move it, can't open the files inside it. Effectively, rendering it a waste of space.

I am fully aware that this is a Windows problem, being unable to deal with it properly. However, their fix was effectively not allowing it in the first place. The problem is that MakeMKV allows it.

A simple fix would be to check the output folder for trailing spaces before it is created, if it can be implemented, though I realise that it is also rare for this ti happen (seeing as I haven't seen it on the forum before) and that most users either use predefined folders or don't have spaces after.

Yugatha

P.S. By the way, to solve this, I ended up using Teracopy to move the folder w/ trailing spaces into a different folder, which allowed me to access as per usual, in case anyone else has the problem.
Woodstock
Posts: 10579
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:21 pm

Re: Folder Naming in Windows

Post by Woodstock »

There are also ways to deal with this using CMD.EXE, when you properly enclose the names within quotes. If you take advantage of the TAB character to auto-complete file names, the directories and file names with spaces at the end will show up.

What is at issue really is that spaces ARE legal within the file name, pretty much anywhere, but Explorer has issues with them. Of course, CMD.EXE has its own issues with file names, so...
Yugatha
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:20 am
Location: The Land Down Under

Re: Folder Naming in Windows

Post by Yugatha »

Woodstock wrote: What is at issue really is that spaces ARE legal within the file name, pretty much anywhere, but Explorer has issues with them....
Completely aware it is a Windows problem :) But, I guess you work with what you have, right?
Woodstock
Posts: 10579
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:21 pm

Re: Folder Naming in Windows

Post by Woodstock »

It gets to be even more fun when you throw it all into a mixed-OS network. Windows doesn't care about character case, but just about every other operating system in popular use does... :roll:
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