A file may be considered an organized collection of computer information. Files are stored on the computer with the help of the operating system. Each operating system has its own convention for naming files; the requirements for UNIX are different than those of Windows 95 for example. Both MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 limit the number of characters used in a filename to eight before the period and three after the period, and spaces and punctuation (besides the period) are not allowed in these operating systems.
Like: Myfile.doc Yourfile.xls Herfile.txt
Although there is a limit of eight characters before the period, it is acceptable to use fewer than eight. Windows 95 allows more than eight characters for filenames, along with spaces. That is helpful as it allows the user to more completely describe a particular file. In fact, Windows 95 will allow up to 255 characters for a filename. Be careful using these features with too much abandon, however. Sometimes the spaces and longer names can get you in trouble. Experienced computer users often stick with the 8.3 naming convention regardless of the operating system they are using, because they know it will always work.
If you create a file while you are in Windows 95 and it has a long file name, what happens when you go switch to a computer using Windows 3.1?
