Odd chrs in filenames <OT>

[Ric Moore]

On Sun, 2011-01-09 at 17:46 +1100, Basil Chupin wrote:
> On 09/01/2011 17:24, Ric Moore wrote:
> > On Sun, 2011-01-09 at 11:24 +1100, Basil Chupin wrote:
> >> On 09/01/2011 10:51, rikona wrote:
> >>> I have hundreds of classical music files with what seems to be foreign
> >>> chrs in the file name. It is not possible to copy these to a backup -
> >>> it says 'file does not exist' but gives the name with some 'black
> >>> diamond' chrs in the name. I'm assuming these diamonds are the chrs it
> >>> does not know what to do with. I have to skip the file to continue.
> >>> There may be a thousand+ of these chrs - too many to do by hand. I
> >>> tried skipping manually, and it became clear this would take a VERY
> >>> long time, and I would still not get a copy.
> >>>
> >>> Is there a way to semi-automatically change these chrs to their
> >>> 'nearest good chr' so it would be approximately readable correctly in
> >>> English, AND the comp would like the name? :-)
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>>
> >>>    rikona
> >>
> >> Has to do with the char set you are using on your computer. You are
> >> probably using UTF-8 but the chars you see as "diamond" will be
> >> displayed correctly if you switch over to Western (ISO 8859-1). (Or try
> >> the reverse to what I just stated.)
> > If you can sorta figure out the filename and wish to copy/move it to
> > something more ascii, you could just use midnight commander (mc) for a
> > text file handler. When I run into Windows file names full of spaces and
> > prancing pink unicorns with spangles, I use mc to brute force them into
> > submission. It's a manly tool, for us manly Linux-OS men and for the
> > Linux Chics ladies, too! :) Ric
> 
> I prefer to use the compassionate, gentle persuasion, and a soft-voiced 
> approach to solving such a problem rather than the "brute force" (you 
> brute, you!) approach you are advocating O:-) .
> 
> Anyway, watcha doing still messing around with Windows garbage?! Shut 
> the damn Windows and stop the bugs from getting in! (Eh, I like what I 
> just wrote! I think I'll use it as a sig line - unless you want to use 
> of course.)
> 
> (Still having a hard time convincing people to switch from Windows, eh? 

They make me crazy. Absolutely bonkers. I cannot wean several important
people in my life from Windows. Plus, they use some sort of crazy
Windows/Yahoo mailer that sticks their posts into a single-cell text box
that you cannot middle or bottom post to, or copy from. I'm insane from
it. Gill Bates hates me personally, I know it. <gibbers> Ric
-- 
My father, Victor Moore (Vic) used to say:
"There are two Great Sins in the world...
..the Sin of Ignorance, and the Sin of Stupidity.
Only the former may be overcome." R.I.P. Dad.
Linux user# 44256