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DOS and Windows File names
A DOS file name is in the format of eight characters, a period (.) then a further 3 characters. This is described as 8.3 file name. A windows file name can, and usually is, longer. The effect of this is that if a long Windows file name is viewed in a DOS program, the file name does not appear correctly. See what happens if PipeDream is used in the C:\Program Files\DOS\PIPED directory when using the following command.
Notice that the DOS directory is shown as C:\PROGRA~1\DOS\PIPED instead of the correct name in Windows, C:\Program Files\DOS\PIPED.
This is why it is suggested that all DOS programs are installed in C:\DOS directory, keeping all directory names short and near the root.