This displays the short names
generated for non-8dot3 file names.
The format is that of /N with the
short name inserted before the long
name. If no short name is present,
blanks are displayed in its place.
There should be a way to use the full c:\program files path directly. Often, it involves encapulating the string in quotes. For instance, on the windows command line;
The Windows shell (assuming you're using CMD.exe) uses %ProgramFiles% to point to the Program Files folder, no matter where it is. Since the default Windows file opener accounts for environment variables like this, if the program was well-written, it should support this.
Also, it could be worth using relative addresses. If the program you're using is installed correctly, it should already be in the Program Files folder, so you could just refer to the configuration file as .\config_file.txt if its in the same directory as the program, or ..\other_program\config_file.txt if its in a directory different than the other program. This would apply not only on Windows but on almost every modern operating system, and will work properly if you have the "Start In" box properly set, or you run it directly from its folder.
I think the reason those suggesting using the C:\PROGRA~1 name have received downvotes is because those names are seen as a legacy feature of Windows best forgotten, which may also be unstable, at least between different installations, although probably not on the same machine.
Also, as someone pointed out in a comment to another answer, Windows can be configured not to have the 8.3 legacy names in the filesystem at all.
You can just create a folder ProgramFiles at local D or local C to install those apps that can be install to a folder name which has a SPACES / Characters on it.
As an alternative to the other answers, you can try symbolic links.
Create the symbolic link first and install the application based on the link. (Depending on the case, this may be way easier to do, for instance when the application has n mentions of the target folder throughout its code)
A symbolic link will create something similar to a shortcut to a folder, but seen as an actual folder by other applications.
This is how you do it:
Run cmd as administrator
User this command: mklink /D "C:\LinkToProgramFiles" "C:\Program Files"
And then, you start using "C:\LinkToProgramFiles" in the applications that can't handle spaces. (This link can be seen in Windows Explorer as a folder with the symbol of a shortcut)
Be very careful not to create circular links if you start playing too much with this.
You can use the following methods to specify C:\Program Files without a space in it for programs that can't handle spaces in file paths:
'Path to Continuum Reports Subdirectory - Note use DOS equivalent (no spaces)
RepPath = "c:\progra~1\continuum_reports\" or
RepPath = C:\Program Files\Continuum_Reports 'si es para 64 bits.
' Path to Continuum Reports Subdirectory - Note use DOS equivalent (no spaces)
RepPath = "c:\progra~2\continuum_reports\" 'or
RepPath = C:\Program Files (x86)\Continuum_Reports 'si es para 32 bits.