Lesson 4

File Naming

A file must be named properly in order to send an attached file and have it transfer on the web.  This requires the sender to observe file naming conventions that are compatible with the hosting servers.

The old DOS convention was "eight dot three"

SHORT FILE NAME	DOT	3-LETTER EXTENSION
8 characters lowercase no spaces no special characters   (See below.)		doc rtf txt jpg html  (etc.)
annlrprt		doc

Smart Computing Encyclopedia Entry, "eight-dot-three"

The current convention is more flexible.

SHORT FILE NAME	DOT	3-LETTER EXTENSION
1-31 characters lowercase or mixed case**  no spaces no special characters   (See below.)		doc rtf txt jpg html  (etc.)
Annual_Report_Fall2008		doc

*  While it is possible to create longer file names, they may not be recognized by all operating
    systems and applications. Most people use between 8 - 31 characters.

**  Depending on the server - some host servers distinguish case -- "case sensitive". 
      (i.e. my_file.doc is different from My_File.doc)  

*** Mac Users must check out-going files for the presence of extensions. 

Illegal Characters

Not all of your keyboard characters can be used when naming files. Choose the wrong ones when naming a file and you are like to cause trouble for yourself and for others trying to receive and open your files.

or "special characters" are not acceptable in filenames:

`	~	!	@	#	$	%	^	&	*
(	)	+	{	}	[	]	|	\	:
;	"	'	<	>	,	?	/	(space)

EXAMPLE:  Not OK: Jayne's Files.doc  --- OK: Jaynes_Files.doc

Legal Characters
or "alphabet characters", dash and underscore are acceptable in filenames.

Aa	Bb	Cc	Dd	Ee	Ff	Gg	Hh	Ii	Jj
Kk	Ll	Mm	Nn	Oo	Pp	Qq	Rr	Ss	Tt
Uu	Vv	Ww	Xx	Yy	Zz
- (dash)		_ (underscore)

Filenames Study-quiz