Create/rename a file/folder that begins with a dot in Windows?
Many programs needs folder names that starts with a dot, like `.emacs.d`, `.gimp-2.2`, `.jedit` etc. How do I create such a folder?When using the Windows Explorer in Windows 2000 (and other versions), I get an error message saying "You have to enter a filename". The only solution I have come up with, is to open a command prompt (Start > Run > "CMD" > OK) and enter `mkdir .mydir`.Why have Microsoft this error message in the Explorer, but not in the command shell? Is there any registry hack out there to fix this, so that I am able to enter the folder name directly in the Explorer?
Unfortunately the method you listed is the only way to do it.
The reason why Windows Explorer won't let you create a file name beginning with . (dot) is because the OS assumes that the characters after a dot refer to the file extension. Thus, if your file/directory name is .directoryname the GUI assumes that directoryname is the extension and that there is no file name, which results in an error.
