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Bruce30271199ivx2
Participating Frequently
June 7, 2023
Question

Bridge unwantingly renames files.

  • June 7, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 1851 views

Bridge unwantingly renames some files in a folder. In Explorer, all the file names are both full and correct. The original file names are sometimes long (persons full name and title). Sample of this is in attached photo. I am using Windows 11. 

3 replies

C
coyote.spark
Participating Frequently
August 22, 2025

I am also having this problem. Here's what I've observed so far:

 

  • It happens to any and all file types
  • Shortened names and extensions are in all-caps
  • Names are 8 characters long (the first 6 characters of the original file name followed by ~ and a number)
  • There's no consistency to how many characters there were in the original file name (for example, Bridge renamed a file that was 38 characters long, but not a file that was 44 characters long)
  • All affected files were created and saved on the same computer, same hard drive.
  • The hard drive is not synchronized with Dropbox or any other cloud storage service
  • The date created / modified has nothing to do with it. For example, files that were created 2 months ago have been renamed, while files created 3 months ago, 2 years ago, yesterday, 10 years ago, etc. were untouched, and had longer file names.
  • When I attempt to manually rename a shortened file name, an error message pops up that reads "The system cannot find the path specified"
  • I disabled Windows 8.3 file names and restarted Bridge. File names were still truncated
  • Windows Explorer has no problem at all displaying any and all file names, regardless of length

 

I've been working on a huge restructuring project to organize files, and I was counting on Bridge to make this easier. I had to give up on Bridge and go back to Windows Explorer because of this issue. Unless I open every single one of the renamed files, or have a Windows Explorer window open on another screen, I have no idea what any of them are without their original names, so Batch Rename is useless.

 

Windows 10 Home

Adobe Bridge 15.1.0.635

C
coyote.spark
Participating Frequently
August 22, 2025

Screenshots attached

L
Lumigraphics
Legend
June 12, 2023

This is Windows 101. You are seeing the 8.3 filename. Bridge has nothing to do with it.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/naming-a-file

B
Bruce30271199ivx2Author
Participating Frequently
June 12, 2023

The unwanted file name changes also occur with original titled short file names. Whether long or short file names, Bridge seems to rename certain files names and leaves alone others.

gregreser
gregreser
Legend
June 12, 2023

@Lumigraphics is right.

Windows file names, including the folder path, are limited to 260 characters. See this post for more info and how to enable long paths.

 

The example file path you have is 388 characters:

C:\Users\memb\OneDrive\Pictures\Dans Papers\Dans Papers Photos\Dan Papers Photos 2023\Dans Papers Photos June 2023\All Against Gala Benefit for The Retreat 06 03 2023\All Against Abuse Gala Benefit-Helen Atkinson-Barnes program director- Carey London Marketing Assoc-Jill Hulke Development Asst-Markie Hancock board member_30A5278 MOD.jpg

 

I notice in your screen shot that the files that are displaying the short filename have more people in the photo, which would mean a longer file name to list each person. Those longer names go over the limit. 

My assumption is wrong if your screen shot was showing files that you had already fixed. Still, I think the problem is related to the file path and name length.

 

I tried to recreate your folder structure and file name and Explorer would not accept the entered name - it cut off the last 92 characters. I tried to apply the name in Bridge got the same error message you did: "System cannot find the specified path". I could enter a shorter name without a problem. So, the path and file names are too long. I know you have a workflow and management system based on those folders and filenames, but you might have to shorten them. Do you use keywords or Person in Image metadata?

    gregreser
    gregreser
    Legend
    June 9, 2023

    I noticed that the shorter file names have the extension .JPG while the longer ones have .jpg 

    Bridge will not change file extensions or file names like. Did these files come from a different device or was there a batch rename/export/download process involved?

    B
    Bruce30271199ivx2Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 9, 2023
    All files came from the same device/source. The file names are long because
    full names and titles were needed to identify the subjects photographed. In
    Explorer, all file names are correct and in full. The change in file name
    occurs after uploading the files to Dropbox. Then some of the file names
    mysteriously change in Bridge and in the Dropbox file name. I then correct
    each changed file name in Dropbox (an unnecessary and time consuming step).
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