short file name inconsistency

I have an app that for some strange reason uses short file names to link
to documents. Novell (both from ReiserFS and NSS volumes) handles the
short file name differently from a Windows server or the local
workstation. If the file has multiple dots in it (ie.
filename.4.8.05.wpd), Windows sees it as filena~1.wpd while Novell sees it
as filena~1.4 . It not using the last 'extension' of the filename means
the files aren't associated with the proper application. Does anyone know
of a workaround for this - on the client or the server?

Brian