I've tried to share a large (5.64 GB) file with a friend, using Direct Connect. We can connect ok but when I try to share the file, it says LimeWire was unable to share the file "******.nrg" but I can share smaller files with no problem. Any ideas, please?

In LW, go tools > options > sharing > types. Click on Add New Extension. Type .nrg into the text field > ok > Apply > ok.

See whether that fixes things.

Thanks for the suggestion but I've already tried that. I've now compressed it down to 3.79 GB but it still won't add it.

My thought is that there is a physical limit to a file size that can be shared using Direct Connect, but I can't seem to find what it is, or the reason for such a limit, if there is one.

I'm not sure if there's a file size limit for sharing... all I can find are these threads... they're both old.
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/downlo...er-things.html
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/tips-t...file-size.html

Try asking at this other forum. You'll need to register there before you post. Maybe one of the LW developers will reply there & give you a definitive answer
LimeWire Forums

I know the size limit was increased, but not sure what it is now. I think it is larger than 2 GB rather than what the 2nd link suggests. (this also takes into consideration for torrent files which can be very large. Torrents were only introduced into LW in recent two years or so. Bittorrent was introduced in the LW Beta 4.13 on 10.30.2006, & introduced into the main version LW 4.14 on 07.26.2007.)

Perhaps a better way of transferring the file is sending your friend a magnet link of that particular file; How to use Magnet Links & Direct Connect. ie: right-click the file in your Library window, then choose to get Magnet details for it. Then send those to your friend. They simply copy-paste that detail into their browser & if LW is the default magnet handler, then LW will start downloading or attempting to download the file.

hmm ... I need to find out about the file size limit. I just added several 4 GB files to my shares over past few days.
Only reference I can find on the LW update history page is file sizes for share increased to 1 TB (4.13.9 (06.29.2007)).

Thanks for your help birdy and Lord of the Rings, it was appreciated, but I've now sorted it!

I upgraded to LimeWire Pro 4.18.8 and its all now working! There must have been limitations on the earlier version that I'd been using.

May i ask which version of LW you were using?

Sure, I think that it was LW Pro v4.12. I'd never bothered updating it as it had always worked fine for me.