Long path names

Guest · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject:

I've just downloaded an evaluation copy of this software - and the first real problem I have is that my backup fails after quite a time because VV has hit some files where the pathname is more than 259 characters !

In my case I think I can get around this by changing folder structure/names to bring the pathnames down to less than 259 characters.

Just think (from my very limited knowledge of this software) that it would be worth adding, during the initial compare processing, a check on pathname lengths (predicted for target) - and then flagging up any long pathnames (individually) on the main VV screen.

In that way the user could then easily shorten the pathnames if necessary, prior to executing a run. The run could then be executed with some confidence that it wouldn't fail on this error.

Just my thoughts - otherwise VV seems an interesting, useful and comprehensive piece of software, thanks.

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

Hi, thank you for evaluating ViceVersa.

You can enable support for long paths, see:
http://www.tgrmn.com/web/kb/item31.htm

No need to change the folder structure.

thanks
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UTFin · Joined: 19 Nov 2012 Posts: 4

I'm having a similar issue which I believe is related to long file paths. Although the error message doesn't mention long file paths, each of the over 500 errors seems to be with files with very long file paths. See one of the errors below.

2012-11-18 22:52:49 : Copying file \\?\UNC\fa-jackson\L$\Controller\FR\Plant Funds Folder\Emails\Email from PF box\Email PF box\Form 2's Previous to FY 07 - 08\Form 2's from email\101-112 101-133 101-134 101-135 101-150 102-029 102-087 102-934 102-948 201-088 201-065 201-025 201-114 301-117 301-143 F2'S.msg <to> \\?\L:\Controller\FR\Plant Funds Folder\Emails\Email from PF box\Email PF box\Form 2's Previous to FY 07 - 08\Form 2's from email\101-112 101-133 101-134 101-135 101-150 102-029 102-087 102-934 102-948 201-088 201-065 201-025 201-114 301-117 301-143 F2'S.msg (326.50KB) [Windows Copy Error: "\\?\UNC\fa-jackson\L$\Controller\FR\Plant Funds Folder\Emails\Email from PF box\Email PF box\Form 2's Previous to FY 07 - 08\Form 2's from email\101-112 101-133 101-134 101-135 101-150 102-029 102-087 102-934 102-948 201-088 201-065 201-025 201-114 301-117 30". The system cannot find the file specified.] [ERROR].

I've tested about 10 of these files and can locate the file on the source server and copy it to the target server manually without issue. I sent an email to support@tgrmn.com about this issue as well.

ahailey · Joined: 22 Jan 2013 Posts: 3

Hello, I am using Vice Versa Pro 2.5 Build 2511 64-bit Server and attempts to use the \\?\ prefix for long path names are unsuccessful. I get an error message saying that the folder cannot be found. Without the \\?\ prefix, the folder path is readable.

\\nfileserver\Public changes to \\?\nfileserver\Public and the error message appears.

Any advice/support is appreciated.

Thanks,

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

Hello,
use \\?\UNC\nfileserver\Public instead.
thanks
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dandwolff · Joined: 13 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

I have a few files(24) that are failing to copy and it is truncating the last 2 digits off the extension so it can't find the files to copy. Here is the line in the log for one of the files. I am using the \\?\ on both source and target any ideas?

Copying file \\?\d:\pcbackups\test-te\Archive_test-te_RA35265\Users\test-te\Documents\EMC_Archive\Safety - Generic Stuff\Safety Day 2009\Warehouse Safety\7005-Public Warehousing & Storage\Guarding floor and wall openings\Instructor Guide Gaurding Floor and Wall Openings.doc <to> \\?\F:\backup\pcbackups\test-te\Archive_test-te_RA35265\Users\test-te\Documents\EMC_Archive\Safety - Generic Stuff\Safety Day 2009\Warehouse Safety\7005-Public Warehousing & Storage\Guarding floor and wall openings\Instructor Guide Gaurding Floor and Wall Openings.doc (15.50MB) [Windows Copy Error: "\\?\d:\pcbackups\test-te\Archive_test-te_RA35265\Users\test-te\Documents\EMC_Archive\Safety - Generic Stuff\Safety Day 2009\Warehouse Safety\7005-Public Warehousing & Storage\Guarding floor and wall openings\Instructor Guide Gaurding Floor and Wall Openings.d". The system cannot find the file specified.] [ERROR].

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

Hi, can you find the files with this name: "Instructor Guide Gaurding Floor and Wall Openings"
thanks
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dandwolff · Joined: 13 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Yes,

But never mind, it looks like windows has an issue copying files with this long of a file path. If I try to copy the file within windows it throws an error.

Thanks for looking at it.

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

OK, thanks
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kjs270 · Guest

Hi, I am having the same issue. I have two identical Microsoft 2012 servers set up for replication. A number of times a week I will get an error such as listed below. It appears that the file name is cut off at the end. The only way to eliminate this error is to delete the source file or rename it.

2013-05-20 11:17:47 : Copying file \\?\D:\Data\RData\Dept\KSES\Water\Bob Thompson\Masters2011-2013\BillaVistaData2011-2012\Literature\Fall2012\SmallScaleNutrientEnrichmentBioassays\1999HilmboeJensenAndersenNutrientadditionbioassaysasindicatorsofnutrientlimitationofphytoineutrophicestuaryMarineEcology.pdf <to> \\?\UNC\agri-s02\data\RData\Dept\KSES\Water\Bob Thompson\Masters2011-2013\BillaVistaData2011-2012\Literature\Fall2012\SmallScaleNutrientEnrichmentBioassays\1999HilmboeJensenAndersenNutrientadditionbioassaysasindicatorsofnutrientlimitationofphytoineutrophicestuaryMarineEcology.pdf (941.79KB) [Windows Copy Error: "\\?\D:\Data\RData\Dept\KSES\Water\Bob Thompson\Masters2011-2013\BillaVistaData2011-2012\Literature\Fall2012\SmallScaleNutrientEnrichmentBioassays\1999HilmboeJensenAndersenNutrientadditionbioassaysasindicatorsofnutrientlimitationofphytoineutrophicestuaryMarine". The system cannot find the file specified.] [ERROR].

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

Hi, what type of drive is the D: drive? thanks
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kjs270 · Guest

Hi thanks for responding back so quick. Both drives are identical, NTFS, Raid5, with Data Deduplication.

KevinS · Guest

I just noticed this post and I am to experiencing a very similar issue. I’m also running Server 2012 Datacenter and replicating across 3 servers using NTFS. As in the example above Vice Versa seems to be truncating part of the file name on the second and third servers. It then gives an error that the file cannot be found. I’m sure it has something to do with the file and path lengths but I thought when using the \\?\ command this fixed the issue? This is a very big problem for us because our servers deal with various research logs and files which routinely can have long file names and paths. What really interesting is our users have no problem saving these files initially to the primary server. Just when Vice Versa does it’s replication. Help!

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8769

Thanks kjs270 and KevinS, could you please send the entire ViceVersa profile log to support @ tgrmn.com ? thanks!
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kjs270 · Guest

I haven't heard anything back so was just making sure you received my logs I sent you and hope you can find out what's going on.

I'm being forced to go back to using Robocopy to backup these files because it doesn't seem to be having this problem.