We use this laptop with a data aquisition system. Some of the test data files were named with spaces. They exist on the hard drive and show up in file manager's window. However, files cannot be opened, renamed or copied. Error: "File manager cannot find file (or one of its components)" "Make sure that the path and the filename are correct and that all required libraries are available." How can I get at these file?

Hi hwech: I don't think Win 3.1 can read a file with a space in it (example > file 12.exe, should be file_12.exe or file-12.exe), try a different file like a *.wav or *.txt to see if it works. If not then could be something corrupted in winfile.exe file, you might restore it from a backup. You can also try using dosshell (exit Windows to DOS prompt to run) to see if you can change name of file(s) so File Manager can work. Good luck. Z

What really works is download calmira and through calmira's explorer it'll delete anything with spaces in it...only takes up 900k of space , doesn't change system files, and yopu have the choice of using a win'95 type shell in 31 if you choose... http://www.calmira.de

Exit to dos and type dosshell(like suggested by Z Furman) at the dos prompt.You can try to copy the files to diskettes and carry them to a modern computer.Your main problem is the dos 5:3 rule to name files that was not used.The name has 5 letters or figures followed by the extension.It can be pure text for .txt or any other format that was fit to do the job.Pure text is easy to transfer from computer to computer but has no format for word processing.It is odd that data was not stored using a standard program like Lotus, Excel or other.Good luck.

If the files can be created with spaces in the data aquisition system, then you should reopen these files (with that system), and then "save as" with a filename not including spaces. Good luck.

Thank you all for your input. None of the dos commands worked so I downloaded Calmira as suggested by Dominicus. It did the trick, however I had to manually rename each file with spaces using the Calmira Explorer. Is there a way to automate? Petit Jean and C_Legend: The data aquisition software is an old dos program that allows you to save the data but not reopen. Two files are saved. One is raw data as a .dat file and the other is compiled and report formated results as .rpt file. Both are just text files and easily opened with any word processor or text editor. Thanks again

Unfortunately , thats one of the problems with the win'95 style explorer even in '95 etc. , thats why i still use filemanager even in '98 and NT....of course the '95 filemanager has the same problem with long filenames unless you get this app that allows it to use them..nt's winfile has native lfn support, thankfully..but w31's winfile will never handle lfn's, so multiple renaming is out..... Renaming files in explorer is slow, sorry . im glad calmira helped ...in win31 i've run into several 32bit apps that very unkindly insert spaces , most often when unzipping-(which is how i discovered it) i think that may be a hazard of having win32s as some of the 32 bit apps don't realize they're being installed onto an 8.3 system...