# Tool-"Open files in Windows Explorer" fails with long filesystem paths

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/tool-open-files-in-windows-explorer-fails-with-long-filesystem-paths/42138
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [June 30, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/tool-open-files-in-windows-explorer-fails-with-long-filesystem-paths/42138 "2018-06-30T13:57:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![ryerman](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ryerman/32/5285_2.png) [@ryerman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ryerman)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/tool-open-files-in-windows-explorer-fails-with-long-filesystem-paths/42138/1 "2018-06-30T13:57:13Z")

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In the past, the commonly suggested method to open files in Windows Explorer was the Tool described [here](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/user-defined-tools/966/3?u=ryerman).  
However, that Tool does not work for long file paths (length \> 259 characters).

Now that Mp3tag supports long paths ([ver 2.88f](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/455)), maybe it should open files in Explorer natively, without users having to create a Tool.

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### Author: ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/tool-open-files-in-windows-explorer-fails-with-long-filesystem-paths/42138/2 "2018-07-09T16:35:00Z")

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Seems like Windows Explorer doesn't support long paths as parameters.

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### Author: ![ryerman](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ryerman/32/5285_2.png) [@ryerman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ryerman)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/tool-open-files-in-windows-explorer-fails-with-long-filesystem-paths/42138/3 "2018-07-09T17:40:49Z")

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Right, that was my understanding. 🙁

But Windows Explorer will open to files with long names if their 8dot3 names are used as parameters.  
However, that requires that 8dot3 names have been created by the file system: that may not be true on any particular users computer.

I was trying to encourage you to find some method that could become native to Mp3tag. 😉

Here's my work-around:

> [@Open files in Explorer, if $char(769) (cyrillic accent) is in the path](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/open-files-in-explorer-if-char-769-cyrillic-accent-is-in-the-path/42009/4):
>
> Try this tool: Name: Select File In Explorer Path: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe Parameter: /c FOR %%A IN ("%\_path%") DO Explorer.exe /e,/select,%%~sA

It would be more elegant if the quick opening and closing of the command window could be avoided.