Backup Concepts

When Backing up any data, there is limits to the amount of characters that can be in a filename. This could be due to space, speed, backwards compatability and many more items.

Limits to filenames are put in place by various vendors e.g. Microsoft = Windows, Apple = Mac, Linux = Linux

References:

• Windows: Maximum Path Length Limitation - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn

• Comparison of file systems - Wikipedia

Common File Systems:

Windows (NTFS): Each element of a filename including each subfolder reference can be 255 characters in length. The entire path+filename length must not exceed 32767 characters.

Mac (APFS): Each element of a filename including each subfolder reference can be 255 characters in length. The entire path+filename length is not explicitly defined.

Linux (ext4): Each element of a filename including each subfolder reference can be 255 characters in length. The entire path+filename length is not explicitly defined.

Notes:

Unicode characters, i.e., special range of characters usually for special letters and symbols can occupy 2 characters when they are stored while the visually are represented as a single character.  Not all file systems will support these characters in filenames but if they do that may alter the perception of the max filename length.

Summary:

• Keeping to a 255-character filename limit is almost always enforced by operating systems.

• Having a deep folder structure that has long names can, debatably,  make it difficult to navigate and can also cause problems with some software solutions, while technically they should be able to handle this state.

• Wise Owl Document database table allows for a filename of 255 characters.  The path of the file is not stored as part of the Document record but rather made up of a system settings defining where the Documents are stored on disk (with no actual size limit), i.e., {{ MatterDocumentsFolderSystemSetting }} + “\” + {{MatterNumber (Max 32 characters)}} + “\” + {{Filename (Max 255 characters)}}