diff --git a/picard/util/__init__.py b/picard/util/__init__.py
index 3188e17c9..c7419128e 100644
--- a/picard/util/__init__.py
+++ b/picard/util/__init__.py
@@ -203,12 +203,20 @@ _re_slashes = re.compile(r'[\\/]', re.UNICODE)
 def sanitize_filename(string, repl="_"):
     return _re_slashes.sub(repl, string)
 
-def make_short_filename(prefix, filename, length=240, max_length=200,
+def make_short_filename(prefix, filename, max_path_length=240, max_length=200,
                         mid_length=32, min_length=2):
+    """
+    Attempts to shorten the file name to the maximum allowed length.
+    
+    max_path_length: The maximum length of the complete path.
+    max_length: The maximum length of a single file or directory name.
+    mid_length: The medium preferred length of a single file or directory.
+    min_length: The minimum allowed length of a single file or directory.
+    """
     parts = [part.strip() for part in _re_slashes.split(filename)]
     parts.reverse()
     filename = os.path.join(*parts)
-    left = len(prefix) + len(filename) + 1 - length
+    left = len(prefix) + len(filename) + 1 - max_path_length
 
     for i in range(len(parts)):
         left -= max(0, len(parts[i]) - max_length)