Should I provide file name with or without File Extension?

To provide file name with or without file extension is really depending on the program that you are providing the file to.

Here are some examples on different programs behaving differently on file names with and without file extension.

1. Windows command program "cmd.exe" allows you to invoke executable files without file extension. For example: "java.exe" are "java" are referring to the same Java program file as shown in the two commands below:

C:\>\fyicenter\jdk-1.8.0\bin\java.exe -version
java version "1.8.0_131"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_131-b11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.131-b11, mixed mode)

C:\>\fyicenter\jdk-1.8.0\bin\java -version
java version "1.8.0_131"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_131-b11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.131-b11, mixed mode)

2. WinRAR program "WinRAR.exe" allows you to specify the archive file without file extension. If not provided, it will add the default extension "rar" to the file name. For example: "archive.rar" are "archive" are referring to the same archive file as shown in the two commands below:

C:\fyicenter>"\Program Files\winrar\WinRAR.exe" a \temp\archive *.*
...

C:\fyicenter>"\Program Files\winrar\WinRAR.exe" a \temp\archive.rar *.*
...

3. The "type" command requires you to provide the file extension. It does not provide any default file extensions. For example: "ping.log" must be provided with file extension, so that the "type" command can locate the file as shown in the commands below:

C:\fyicenter>ping google.com >> ping.log

C:\fyicenter>type ping
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\fyicenter>type ping.log
Pinging google.com [172.217.12.174] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 172.217.12.174: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=56
...

⇒ Wildcard Character In File Names

⇐ File Name with Relative Path or Absolute Path

⇑ File Name and File Path

⇑⇑ Windows Batch File Tutorials