This utility serves a simple purpose and is offered as freeware. It allows the renaming of long filenames. The old files are saved to a "Backup" directory.
"Length" allows changing the default (64 characters) file length. "Exit" exits and "Help" calls up this file. Windows 9x supports long filenames up to 256 characters, while Windows 3x/DOS support 12 characters (8.3), also called ISO9660. Romeo supports 126 characters and is available on some CDR burning software. It also appears to be supported by the Adaptec UDF Direct CD writer for CDRW's. Joliet supports 64 characters and is the maximum for most CDR software at present.
This software was developed to allow rapid reduction and customization of long filenames to be saved to CD. It is complementary for my LongFilename Database program. The interface is intuitive but a short explanation will follow. This is the only documentation for this program offered and there are no warrantees.
Installation is simple. Just unzip the program to any directory. If you have the Visual Basic 6.0 Runtimes then the program is ready. Otherwise install the VB6.0 Runtimes. These are available directly from this site (see Index of Choices) and need to be installed only once for all VB 6.0 programs.
You may create a shortcut to your desktop
from the 
Reducer.exe
program and alter the Properties to Start in any specific directory. Use
the Drive and Directory controls to scroll through your hard drive. Based
upon the filename length chosen as you change directories those files greater
than or equal to that value will be displayed in the Navy Blue List Box
at the bottom. The light blue File list box is disabled on the
right.
Select (click on) a file in the Navy Blue List Box at the bottom and the filename will be transferred to the white Text Box which can be edited. The file length is displayed next to the Form Caption at the top (e.g. Reduce It: 100). The caption changes in real time as the filename is altered. Be sure to retain the same extension (e.g. ".ext") on each file. You might remove any spacing between the words, punctuation or non-searchable words such as "a", "and", etc... In other words, reduce the filename to essential key words that are searchable with the LongFilename Database program
You can use the Add Path button if you plan to backup your files to the same directory specification as on your hard drive. The Path is included in the total filename length allowed above. The DelPath button removes the paths. The default is no path appended. For example, in the default instance you would save your files to the root directory of the CD which would add 3 characters to the filename (e.g. e:\).
The "Save" button first backs up the file to a "Backup" directory which will be created off of your active directory. The original file is then renamed and then the directory is refreshed and assessed. If the newly named file is less than the specified length it will no longer appear in the Navy Blue List Box.