It's probably not the length of the file names but the characters used which cause the problems.
These characters are allowed in file names but are treated as jokers when used with CLI programs:
~ ( ) | # ? [ ]
You can escape these characters by preceding them with a '.
For example to rename Some File (1987).adf into somefile.adf you can enter
rename "Some File '(1987').adf" somefile.adf
Bye,
Thomas
