Learn@UW Utility Knowledgebase

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Learn@UW - Special Characters for File and Folder Names

This document describes what special characters, besides letters and digits (A-Z, a-z, 0-9), are allowed in file and folder names. This applies to all tools in the Learn@UW application where files and folders may be uploaded or created: for example, the Dropbox and Locker tools.

!	#	$	%	&	'	(	)	+	,	-	.
;	=	@	[	]	^	_	`	{	}	~

These special characters are NOT allowed in file and folder names:

"

*

/

:

<

>

?

\

|

Problems will likely arise if file or folder names contain any of these characters.

If you attempt to upload a file containing any of these characters, you will receive an appropriate message. You will then have to rename the file before you can successfully upload it.

Notes:

• Do not begin a file or folder name with a space (blank). Files and folders whose names begin with a space may cause problems.

  Otherwise, spaces are allowed in file and folder names are allowed and no longer seem to cause problems. They have caused problems in the past. You may wish to use underscores ( _ ) instead.

• All file names must have a valid extension. It is good practice to only use periods in a file name between the root name and the extension. In particular, avoid using two consecutive periods ( .. ) in a file name. The occurrence of two consecutive periods may cause problems.

• If a file name that contains semicolons ( ; ) is uploaded into a Locker or Dropbox folder, the semicolons will be stripped out of the name.

• Pound signs ( # ), ampersands ( & ), braces ( { } ), and apostrophes ( ' ) are now allowed in file and folder names and no longer cause problems. They have caused problems in the past.

Refer to Learn@UW - Trouble-shooting Problems when Accessing Files from the Locker if you are experiencing problems accessing files from your locker or Learn@UW - Trouble-shooting Problems when Accessing Files from a Dropbox Folder if you are experiencing problems accessing files from a dropbox folder.

See Also:

• Learn@UW - Possible Problems if Course Files Have Names Beginning with a Blank