SITUATION: I have a file in WinXP whose name is too long.  It cannot
be opened.  It needs to be given a shorter name so that it can be
opened.

PROBLEM: I cannot rename it using the Command Prompt and the
appropriate DOS command >> REN <<

PARTICULARS:

1. I've changed the directory to the appropriate sub-directory

2. I've used the DIR command to list the files in this sub-directory.
The file I'm looking for _was_ listed therein.

3. I've _repeatedly_ used the REN command

REN OldFileName.* NewFileName.*

I've typed in the OldFileName.* _exactly_ as it was listed in the
results of the DIR command.  _Every_ time I've done so, I get a >> The
syntax of the command is incorrect << error message.

4. I've used the >> DIR OldFileName << Command to see if the specific
file I'm trying to rename would be recognized.  It was _not_ -- I get
a >> File not found << error message (Even though, as noted in Item 2
above, the DIR command for the sub-directory in which it was located
_does_ list it!).

5. The old filename in question contains the following symbols as part
of its name:

[PartofFileName] - Opening and closing brackets

''PartofFileName'' - Two single stroke quotation marks repeated before
and after portions of the file name text (to simulated quotation marks
that WinXP filenames will not allow

-- PartofFileName -- - Double Dashes that seperate portions of the
file name text

6. The type of file I'm trying to rename is an askSam file >> *.ask
<<.  I'm trying to open it with askSam version 6.1.

7. I've done this before.  This is the first time I've been unable to
rename a too-long filename using this method.

QUESTION: How do I rename (shorten) this filename so I can open it?

Thanks.

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