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Windows and
Macintosh Difference

Maximum Mac file name: 32
Maximum Windows 95/98/2K file name: 256
(for most but not all Win95 machine)

Windows stores both a long file name and a short file name for every file.

Mac will not be able to see long filenames that exceed 31 characters in
length. Therefore, it will display the short file name or CRASH THE MACINTOSH
trying to display long file names.

The short filename is created by Windows to fit the 8.3 format to support
Win3x and 95 (not 32 bit systems).

An example of the naming convention for short filenames:
You have three files on the Windows machine:

THC-CS_lynx-1010_MC-105_data.xls
THC-CS_lynx-1010_MC-106_data.xls
THC-CS_lynx-1010_MC-107_data.xls

For long file names, the differences of the file names are evident.

The short file names of these files will be listed as:

THC-CS~1.XLS
THC-CS~2.XLS
THC-CS~3.XLS

Because the first eight characters are the same for all three files, the
short name must find a way to differentiate between the three files.

The first six characters, then a tilde, then a number designation is
the convention that Windows uses to create the short file names.

For more on file naming see: http://www.stylecraft.net/help

Cross platform solutions
for Mac and PCs.

For PC to Macs over a network and see removable media:
http://www.pcmaclan.com/products/index.html
This is what we use on the PC's in our office.

For PC to see Mac removable media, no networking.
http://www.media4.com/products/
I have this at home on no networked PCs. PCMacland has this and more.

Dave, for Mac to PCs and resources over a network, Macintosh-based solution:
http://www.thursby.com/products/dave.html