[bug-mailutils] Re: Illegal Windows filename characters

[Bill Wohler]

djh <address@hidden> wrote:

> Re: Bill's message: 
> > > > mhn: Cannot open output stream (file
> > > > /cygdrive/c/tmp/FuncTechSpec_I0007-00_Delivery data
> > > > =3D?ISO-2022-JP?B?ZG93bmxvYWQbJEIhShsoQndlYhskQiFLGyhCXw=3D=3D?=3D
> > > > =3D?ISO-2022-JP?B?cjMuMl8wNTExMjhwbV9FbmcuZG9j?=3D): No such file or
> > > > directory
> > >=20
> 
> 
> > > Interesting, I don't see any characters in there that would be illegal
> > > filename characters in Windows. Do you?
> > >=20
> 
> The question mark characters, '?', can not be used in a filename
> 
> According to 
> http://www.grouplogic.com/knowledge/index.cfm/fuseaction/view_Info/docID/111
> "The following characters are invalid as file or folder names on Windows 
> using NTFS:
> / ? < > \ : * | " and any character you can type with the Ctrl key
> 
> In addition to the above illegal characters the caret ^ is also not permitted 
> under Windows Operating Systems using the FAT file system."
> 
> ----
> 
> and at: http://www.ss64.com/ntsyntax/faq.html
> "Legal characters in NTFS include the following:    [ ] . ; = ( )
> 
> The period (.) cannot be the first or only character in the filename
> 
> Illegal Characters: 
> The following characters are not permitted in Windows file or directory names:
>                                                / \ : * ? " < > | 

Thanks for the references, Darel. Hmmm, the reference[1] I've been
using, which is from Microsoft, contains the set

  < > : " / \ |

This set lacks the ? and * characters. Can anyone explain the discrepancy?

1. 
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/fileio/fs/naming_a_file.asp

-- 
Bill Wohler <address@hidden>  http://www.newt.com/wohler/  GnuPG ID:610BD9AD