Method and system for providing a common name space for long...

Details Method and system for providing a common name space for long... Method and system for providing a common name space for long...

1997-01-28

2001-09-04

Black, Thomas G. (Department: 2771)

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

Database design

Data structure types

C707S793000, C707S793000, C710S262000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286013

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to data processing systems and, more particularly, to a common name space for long and short filenames.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many operating systems, such as the MS-DOS, version 5, operating system, sold by MICROSOFT Corporation of Redmond, Wash., support only short filenames. In the MS-DOS, version 5, operating system, filenames may be a maximum length of eleven characters. Each filename may have a main portion of eight characters followed by an extension of three characters. An example filename in the MS-DOS, version 5, operating system is “EXAMPLE1.EXE”, wherein “EXAMPLE1” constitutes the main portion and “EXE” constitutes the extension.
Each filename is limited to eleven characters due to constraints in the file system of the MS-DOS, version 5, operating system. This file system employs a directory structure in which each file has a directory entry associated with it. Unfortunately, the directory entry for a file only supports filenames with a maximum length of eleven characters. Such a limit in the length of the filenames is often frustrating to a user. The length limit of eleven characters prevents a user from employing adequately descriptive filenames and, in many instances, forces a user to insert awkward abbreviations of descriptive terms into the filename.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a system that supports long filenames.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that supports long filenames while minimizing the compatibility impact of supporting long filenames.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that supports a common name space for both long filenames and short filenames.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in a data processing system having a memory means and a processing means. In accordance with this method, a first directory entry is created and stored in the memory means for a file. The first directory entry holds a first filename for the file and information about the file. A second directory entry is also created and stored in the memory means. The second directory entry holds at least one portion of a second filename having a fixed number of characters and information about the file. One of the first or second directory entries is accessed in the memory means to gain access to the information contained therein.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a data processing system includes a memory that holds a first directory entry for a file, a second directory entry for the file, and an operating system. The first directory entry includes a first filename for the file and the second directory entry includes the second filename for the file. The second filename includes more characters than the short filename. The data processing system also includes a processor for running the operating system and accessing either the first directory entry or the second directory entry to locate the file.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in a data processing system having memory. In accordance with this method, a file is created and the file is assigned a user-specified long filename. The long filename is manipulated with the data processing system to create a short filename of fewer characters. The long filename and the short filename are stored in memory so that the file can be accessed by either the long filename or the short filename.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in which a first directory entry for a file is stored in a memory means. The first directory entry holds the short filename for the file. The short filename includes at most a maximum number of characters that is permissible by an application program. A second directory entry is also stored in the memory means for the file. A second directory entry holds at least the first portion of a long filename for the file. The long filename includes a greater number of characters than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the application program. The application program is run on a processor of the data processing system. The application program identifies the file by the short filename.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in which a first directory entry is stored in the memory means for a file. The first directory entry holds a short filename for the file that includes at most the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the operating system. A second directory entry is stored in the memory means for the file. The second directory entry holds a long filename for the file that includes more than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the operating system. In this instance, the operating system does not use long filenames; rather, it uses solely short filenames. The first directory entry is accessed by the operating system to locate the file.


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