Get DOS 8.3 short name with VbScript

Create a new text file called shortname.vbs: Open in Notepad and paste the following code in it:

set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") 

strLongName = Wscript.Arguments(0)
strShortName = "Invalid File/Folder - (" & strLongName & ")"
Set fsoFile = Nothing

On Error Resume Next

Set fsoFile = fso.GetFile(strLongName)

if Err.number <> 0 then
	Set fsoFile = fso.GetFolder(strLongName)
end if

if fsoFile is not nothing then
	strShortName = fsoFile.ShortPath
end if
Wscript.Echo strShortName

Run the script using cscript:

cscript shortname.vbs "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

You will then get the following output:

C:\PROGRA~1\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe