Cannot Manage Files with Trailing Spaces

• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

One of the following messages will appear if you try to move, delete, copy, or rename a file whose name contains a trailing space:

• File Manager cannot move <filename and path>: The system cannot find the file specified. Make sure the correct path and filename are specified and the network is started.
• The system cannot find the file specified <filename and path>
• Could not find <filename and path>

CAUSE

Windows NT cannot handle trailing spaces in filenames. This problem usually only occurs on domains that are connected to Macintosh computers. Under the Macintosh operating system, filenames with trailing spaces are support. Windows NT Advanced Server computers connected via Services for Macintosh (SFM) can obtain files with trailing spaces. However, once the files have been created, it is difficult to manager them. The filename is not touched by Windows NT and no MS-DOS FAT-compatible (8.3) filename is created.

RESOLUTION

Rename files with trailing spaces from a Macintosh computer, removing trailing spaces.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1. This problem was corrected in Windows NT 3.5