How to use long object names

In ILWIS 3, object names comply with Windows long file names.

In object names, any character may be used except \ / : * ? < > | "
The maximum length of an object name is 255 characters including the full path.

Furthermore, it is not allowed to use % in any ILWIS object name.

Long object names in dialog boxes:

In dialog boxes, long object names can be used freely. When creating objects or when specifying an output object name in a dialog box, you may thus specify object names that start with or contain:

characters from A to Z,
digits from 0 to 9,
underscores,
spaces, or
any of the following special characters ` ~ ! @ # $ ^ & ( ) - + = [ ] { } ; ' , .

The following oject names are thus all valid: My_output_map, My output map, map'99, 99 map, #1map, and My.Map.

In dialog boxes, the use of single quotes around object names (as explained below) is permitted but not required.

Long object names on the command line and in scripts:

On the command line and in scripts, you must use single quotes around object names which:

start with a digit between 0 and 9,
start with a space, or contain one or more spaces,
start with or contain any of the following special characters ` ~ ! @ # $ ^ & ( ) - + = [ ] { } ; ' , .

Object extensions should be left outside the quotes.

When an object name already contains a single quote ', this single quote must be duplicated.

On the command line and in scripts, single quotes around object names can only be omitted when object names start with a character between A to Z and do not contain spaces nor special characters.

Command line/script examples:

To demonstrate the use of single quotes around object names on the command line and/or in scripts, some examples of expressions are given below.

MyOutputMap = map1 + map2	input maps and output map without spaces or special characters
My_Output_Map = map1 + map2	input maps and output map without spaces or special characters
'My Output Map' = map1 + map2	output map contains spaces
'Map1+2' = 'map.1' + 'map 2'	output map and first input map contain a special character; second input map contains a space
'Map1&2' = 'map.1' + 'map 2'	output map and first input map contain a special character; second input map contains a space
'99Edges' = MapFilter('map''99',edgesenh)
	output map starts with a digit; input map contains a special character (a single quote which has to be duplicated)
'99Edges'.mpr = MapFilter('map''99'.mpr,edgesenh)
	same as previous
attrib_map_main_crop_99 = 'My.Map'.'99Landuse'.'Main Crop'
	input map contains a special character; table name starts with a digit; column name contains a space

UNC paths:

Furthermore, in ILWIS 3, Universal Naming Convention (UNC) paths are supported. A UNC path starts with \\ServerName\... rather than with DriveLetter:\...