8 character filename limitations on only some PCS???? PLEASE HELP!

[JIM_R]

We are running:
XMPie uDirect Professional
Version 4.0.2 build 3177 [Mar 2 2008]
opn multiples PC and doing a lot of Dynamic Printing from the local
PCs. For some reason a couple of the computers can link to data files
that are longer that 8 characters and others cannot. We cannot figure
out why. The same file will try to be opened on 2 different computers
and it will open on one and not the other if it is over 8 characters.
We are using DBF (fox2x) files out of Microsoft FoxPro. Anyone know
why some work and some dont...have how to fix the ones that dont?
Thanks!

[Bill]

Could you detail what does happen, when you try to open your Foxpro
DBF files on the failing stations? (any error message?).
As you mentioned "uDirect Professional", can you specify if your
problem occurs with uDirect (directly from within InDesign), or from
uPlan? Or both?
BTW, your version is now quite (very) old.
I just read the Release Notes for 4.0.4, 4.5.2 and 4.6.2, but could
not find anything related to DBF files.
I would however try an upgrade to 4.6.2 (using CS2, and not being able
to upgrade to CS3 or CS4, is the only thing which would prevent you
from upgrading to XMPie 4.6.2).
If you are using linear barcode, do not forget to also upgrade your
XMPie barcode fonts (as a new batch was released with 4.6).
While you can download uDirect directly from the www.xmpie.com website
(Download Center: http://www.xmpie.com/?id=1274), you will need to
contact your Xerox or XMPie representative to get a copy of uDirect
Professional (uPlan).

[JasonSpr]

The FAT16 and FAT32 file systems (the way a hard drive organizes all
the data) have an eight character limit for titles, with a three
character extension. My guess would be that the problem PCs are using
one of these olders file systems. The file systems can be converted to
a more modern system such as NTFS, but certain considerations need to
be taken when do that.

Here is the Microsoft Support document on converting from FAT16 or
FAT32 to NTFS. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

Cheers,
-Jason

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[JIM_R]

The error message is:
"failed to get table information from data source"
this is all withing uDirect in InDesign not within a plan or on the
uproduce server.
Also, we are all on the NTFS file system with Windows XP SP3.
The version is older, but I was under the impression that we cannot
use 4.6 without having CS4. We all have CS3. Please correct me if I am
wrong because I will update immediately.
Thank you,
Jim

[Bill]

You are wrong!

;-)

[Mark Kuehn]

I have both CS3 and CS4 working very nicely with XMPie 4.6.2

-Mark

[JIM_R]

So I updated and it still does the same problem. I am thinking it is
maybe a windows setting or something. All these computers have
relatively the same settings...they have had the same updates done to
them, but still wont open up long filenames. Can you all open dbfs
with long filename with no problem on all your machines?
Thanks again,
Jim

[Justin]

Jim,

Can you open these dbf files with Excel? FOX2X files should open fine
in Excel but if not then they are not actually FOX2X format.

[JIM_R]

Yes they open in Excel just fine...mmmm.....

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[Justin]

Are you specifying the file as dbase or Foxpro?