Using full stops in figure name to replace spaces: error (confusion of file extension)

Question

I am not sure this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it and I am hoping to get a solution or at least a good explanation of why this is a bad idea. (there are questions about using underscore or spaces, but as far as I can tell nothing about full stops).

I started using full stops to replace spaces in file names but LaTeX does not seem to accept this. For example, when I name the figure figSE.pdf the code compiles fine, but if I name it instead fig.SE.pdf I get the error message

ERROR: LaTeX Error: Unknown graphics extension: .SE.pdf.

I know I can just rename the file, but I quite like my new system and if there is a way to make LaTeX accept it I would prefer (and I don't want to use hyphens nor underscores).

Here is a MWE

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{document}

\begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics{fig.SE.pdf}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

And an example of a figure can be found here: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1885087/fig.SE.pdf

Answer 1

First things first:
You don't have to include any graphicx extension.

\includegraphics{figSE}

works, too.

Now, LaTeX uses the first period to find out what extension you're using, but you can hide that:

\includegraphics{{fig.SE}.pdf}

or even:

\includegraphics{{{fig.SE}}}

Answer 2

Package grffile adds support for multiple dots to graphics file names:

\usepackage{grffile}

Answer 3

Use braces like \includegraphics{{fig.SE}.pdf}. This method works even if you have space like \includegraphics{{fig SE}.pdf}.

Another way of including graphics files with spaces is to use the package grffile. Simply put

\usepackage[space]{grffile}

in your preamble.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[demo]{graphicx}
\usepackage[space]{grffile}

\begin{document}

\begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics{fig SE.pdf}
\end{figure}

\end{document}