Rename Files
To True DOS 8.3 format

Converting File Name to DOS 8.3 Format

Unlike many programs that attempt to rename files to the DOS 8.3 format, FileBoss makes the long file the same as the 8.3 format that Windows already maintains. This ensures compatibility with existing programs. Due to historical, internal weirdness of Windows (sorry, there is no other way to describe it) to rename a file to be the same as Windows' native 8.3 format requires extra work. Most other programs simply pick a new 8.3 name to use rather than using true names.

 

1) Select the files you want to rename by changing to DOS 8.3 Format

In the following example we have selected a series of folders that we want to convert to the DOS 8.3 format

 

2) Select Actions | Rename... from the main menu

 

 

3) Select the Change to 8.3 Names tab

The display below shows all the tab. It is important to remember that when the OK button is pressed only the settings in the current tab - in this case the Transform tab - will be used to rename the files.

 

1. Click on the Change to 8.3 Name tab it is not already selected.
2. There are no options available for this renaming function.
3. Check the sample renamed file. This sample is always available for all the options giving you an idea of how the options will affect the file names.

4) Confirm the renamed files

After pressing the OK button in the above step, FileBoss will find the first file to be renamed and display a confirmation dialog similar to the one below.

 

You can continue to rename or skip each file individually or at any time you can Rename All the rest of the files or Skip Rest thus ending the renaming.

 

Note that you can edit the new name anyway you like and then press the Rename button giving you total control over how the file is named.

 

5) See the results

When FileBoss has finished renaming the files the new names will appear immediately in the Contents window.