diff --git a/Docs/src/generalpurpose.but b/Docs/src/generalpurpose.but
index 3f82fefe..08f22fc1 100644
--- a/Docs/src/generalpurpose.but
+++ b/Docs/src/generalpurpose.but
@@ -84,7 +84,20 @@ This is similar to GetFileTime, only it acts on the system building the installe
 
 \c [/SHORT] user_var(output) path_or_file
 
-Assign to the user variable $x, the full path of the file specified. If the path portion of the parameter is not found, the error flag will be set and $x will be empty. If /SHORT is specified, the path is converted to the short filename form.
+Assign to the user variable $x, the full path of the file specified. If the path portion of the parameter is not found, the error flag will be set and $x will be empty. If /SHORT is specified, the path is converted to the short filename form. However, if /SHORT is not specified, the path isn't converted to its long filename form. To get the long filename, call GetLongPathName using the System plug-in. Note that GetLongPathName is only available on Windows 98, Windows 2000 and above.
+
+\c StrCpy $INSTDIR $PROGRAMFILES\NSIS
+\c SetOutPath $INSTDIR
+\c GetFullPathName $0 ..
+\c DetailPrint $0 # will print C:\Program Files
+\c GetFullPathName /SHORT $0 $INSTDIR
+\c DetailPrint $0 # will print C:\Progra~1\NSIS
+
+\c StrCpy $0 C:\Progra~1\NSIS
+\c System::Call 'kernel32::GetLongPathName(t r0, t .r1, i ${NSIS_MAX_STRLEN}) i .r2'
+\c StrCmp $2 error +2
+\c StrCpy $0 $1
+\c DetailPrint $0 # will print C:\Program Files\NSIS, where supported
 
 \S2{gettempfilename} GetTempFileName