Method and system for providing a common name space for long and short file names in an operating system

• US 6,286,013 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reynolds, Aaron R., Pedrizetti, Ray D., Arun, Rasipuram V., Adler, Dennis R., Lipe, Ralph A., Parsons, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/787,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 395/616, 395/500, 395/500.41, 707/200, 707/100, 707/203, 707/205, 710/261, 710/262
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/166 File name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An operating system provides a common name space for both long filenames and short filenames. In this common namespace, a long filename and a short filename are provided for each file. Each file has a short filename directory entry and may have at least one long filename directory entry associated with it. The number of long filename directory entries that are associated with a file depends on the number of characters in the long filename of the file. The long filename directory entries are configured to minimize compatibility problems with existing installed program bases.

Claims

1. An application program interface for creating and managing files and directories having long and short filenames in an MS-DOS operating system, comprising:

(a) retrieving a function based on a designated command;

(b) copying parameters of the function to at least one register;

(c) issuing an Interrupt 21h instruction;

(d) executing the function according to the issued Interrupt 21h instruction;

(e) converting 64-bit file time to MS-DOS date and time values; and

(f) converting MS-DOS date and time values to 64-bit file time.

2. The application program interface of claim 1, wherein the function is selected from a group, comprising 5704h, 5705h, 5706h, 5707h, 7139h, 713Ah, 713Bh, 7141h, 7143h, 7147h, 714Eh, 714Fh, 7156h, 7160h, 716Ch, 71A0h, 71A1h, 71A6h and 71A7h.

3. A computer system including a microprocessor and a software program, the software program utilizing an application program interface to request services from an operating system that does not support filenames with greater than eight characters in a leading portion or three characters in an extension portion, the requested services relating to interaction with short and long filenames, the application program interface including a plurality of commands for requesting services from the operating system, comprising:

(a) getting a last access date and time;

(b) setting the last access date and time;

(c) getting a creation date and time;

(d) setting the creation date and time;

(e) making a directory;

(f) removing the directory;

(g) changing the directory;

(h) deleting a file;

(i) setting attributes of a file;

(j) getting the current directory;

(k) finding a first file;

(l) finding a next file;

(m) renaming a file;

(n) getting a full path name;

(o) getting a short path name;

(p) getting a long path name;

(q) creating a file;

(r) opening a file;

(s) getting volume information;

(t) closing the file search;

(u) getting file information by handle;

(v) converting 64-bit file time to MS-DOS date and time values; and

(x) converting MS-DOS date and time values to 64-bit file time.

4. A method for employing an operating system and an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, comprising:

(a) providing a first function in the operating system for creating a directory with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) providing a second function in the operating system for creating another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when calling the second function to create the other directory having the long name and create at least one directory entry to hold the long name, automatically calling the first function to create the directory having the short name and create at least one directory entry to hold the short name, at least a portion of the short name created for the directory corresponding to the long name created for the other directory, wherein each short name and each long name stored in each respective directory entry is employable as an index for locating data associated with a file name.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating system supports a plurality of numbered software interrupts and wherein the second function is called by generating software interrupt number 21 in hexadecimal notation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating system supports an AX register and the second function is called when a value of 7139 in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

7. A method for employing an operating system and an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, comprising:

(a) providing a first function in the operating system for removing a directory with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters and deleting a directory entry for the short name;

(b) providing a second function in the operating system for removing a directory with a long name with greater than twelve characters and deleting a directory entry for the long name; and

(c) when calling the second function to remove the other directory having the long name and delete at least one directory entry in which the long name is held, automatically calling the first function to remove the directory having the short name and delete at least one directory entry in which the short name is held, at least a portion of the short name of the directory corresponding to the long name of the other directory, wherein each short name and each long name stored in each respective directory entry is employable as an index for locating data associated with a file name.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operating system supports a plurality of numbered software interrupts and wherein the second function is called by generating software interrupt number 21 in hexadecimal notation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating system supports an AX register and the second function is called when a value of 713A in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

10. A method for employing an operating system and an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, comprising:

(a) providing a first function in the operating system for deleting a file with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) providing a second function in the operating system for deleting another file with a long name with greater than twelve characters, wherein the file with the long name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to delete the other file having the long name located in the other directory with the long name, automatically calling the first function to delete the file having the short name located in the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the file corresponding to the long name of the other file.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating system supports a plurality of numbered software interrupts, and wherein the second function is called by generating software interrupt number 21 in hexadecimal rotation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating system supports an AX register and the second function is called when a value of 7141 in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

13. A method for employing an operating system and an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, comprising:

(a) providing a first function in the operating system for renaming a file having a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) providing a second function in the operating system for renaming another file having a long name with greater than twelve characters, wherein the file with the long name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to rename the other file having the long name located in the other directory with the long name, automatically calling the first function to rename the file having the short name located in the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the file corresponding to the long name of the other file.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the operating system supports a plurality of numbered software interrupts and wherein the second function is called by generating software interrupt number 21 in a hexadecimal notation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating system supports an AX register and the second function is called when a value of 7156 in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

16. A method for employing an operating system and an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, comprising:

(a) providing a first function in the operating system for finding a file with a short file name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) providing a second function in the operating system for finding the file with a long file name having greater than twelve characters wherein the file with the long name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the first function is called to find the file by its short file name located in the directory with the short name, automatically calling the second function to find the file by its long file name located in the other directory with the long name, at least a portion of the short file name of the file corresponding to the long file name of the file.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operating system supports a plurality of numbered software interrupts and wherein the second function is called when software interrupt number 21 in hexadecimal notation is generated.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating system includes an AX register and the second function is called when a value 714E in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating system supports an AX register and the second function is called when a value 714F in hexadecimal notation is disposed in the AX register.

20. A computer-readable storage medium holding an operating system, the operating system employing an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system:

(a) a first function in the operating system for finding a file with a short file name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) a second function in the operating system for finding the file with a long file name having greater than twelve characters, wherein the file with the long name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the first function is called to find the file by its short file name located in the directory with the short name, automatically calling the second function to find the file by its long file name located in the other directory with the long name, at least a portion of the short file name of the file corresponding to the long file name of the file.

21. A computer-readable storage medium holding an operating system, said operating system employing an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, including:

(a) a first function in the operating system for creating a directory with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) a second function in the operating system for creating another directory with a long name with greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to create the directory having the long name, automatically calling the first function to create the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the directory corresponding to the long name of the other directory, wherein each short name and each long name stored in each respective directory entry is employable as an index for locating data associated with a file name.

22. A computer-readable storage medium holding an operating system, said operating system employing an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, including:

(a) a first function in the operating system for removing a directory with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) a second function in the operating system for removing another directory with a long name with greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to remove the directory having the long name, automatically calling the first function to remove the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the directory corresponding to the long name of the other directory, wherein each short name and each long name stored in each respective directory entry is employable as an index for locating data associated with a file name.

23. A computer-readable storage medium holding an operating system, said operating system employing an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, including:

(a) a first function in the operating system for deleting a file with a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) a second function in the operating system for deleting another file with a long name with greater than twelve characters, wherein the file with the long name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to delete the file having the long name located in the other directory with the long name, automatically calling the first function to delete the file having the short name located in the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the file corresponding to the long name of the other file.

24. A computer-readable storage medium holding an operating system, said operating system employing an application program interface to provide a plurality of functions in the operating system, including:

(a) a first function in the operating system for renaming a file having a short name that has a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters, wherein the file with the short name is located in a directory with a short name having a leading portion with a maximum of eight characters and an extension portion with a maximum of three characters;

(b) a second function in the operating system for renaming another file having a long name with greater than twelve characters, wherein the file with the lone name is located in another directory with a long name having greater than twelve characters; and

(c) when the second function is called to rename the other file having the long name located in the other directory with the long name, automatically calling the first function to rename the file having the short name located in the directory with the short name, at least a portion of the short name of the file corresponding to the long name of the other file.