>>>It isn't the OS. I have 2 Win2K Pro installations. In once instance I get with ~ in the other I don't.
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>>Hmm, I can't repro the "correct" behavior. Out of five Windows XP machines (Server and Pro), and one Windows 2000 server, they all have the DOS-style paths.
>
>
>Ok then, how about this... if I have the long directory name, how can I get the shortened version of it?

In addition to what Mike posted, there is teh FileSystemObject:

ofolder = ofso.GetFolder('C:\Documents and Settings\LMiller\Local Settings\Temp')
? ofolder.ShortPath

FWIW, I have Win2K Pro SP2, VFP 7 and SYS(2023) also returns the DOS short version. Additional information is that the TEMP variable displays the shorted verion when displayed in the CMD prompt.