Windows standards?
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Does anybody know where Windows applications should put their application data? It seems that there are lots of games and programs that writes their non-userspecific data in the application directory "\Program Files\MyCompany\MyApp", which poses a huge problem if you do not have write access to that folder. Does anybody know hos applications should behave in that matter? Does anybody know of an document that describes stuff like that? Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
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Does anybody know where Windows applications should put their application data? It seems that there are lots of games and programs that writes their non-userspecific data in the application directory "\Program Files\MyCompany\MyApp", which poses a huge problem if you do not have write access to that folder. Does anybody know hos applications should behave in that matter? Does anybody know of an document that describes stuff like that? Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
Yes! Windows apps put their data in the Application Data folder (call some API call to find the location), I believe. Putting it in the Program Files directory is bad, because limited users on Windows XP do not have write access and will encounter an error. And I have the perfect document for you, but I left it at home :(. If you bug me by e-mail on Sunday, I can get it for you. It's a PPT presentation on how to make games work well with Windows XP (targeted towards game developers). It includes the specifics of all the API calls and such, and even gives a few pages of code on how to register an application extension at startup. I think it's definitely what you need. Anyway, if you don't want to wait, go to the DirectX Developers page, and look for the meltown presentations. It should have on about Windows XP, that's the one.
-Domenic Denicola- [CPUA 0x1337] Geekn MadHamster Creations
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Does anybody know where Windows applications should put their application data? It seems that there are lots of games and programs that writes their non-userspecific data in the application directory "\Program Files\MyCompany\MyApp", which poses a huge problem if you do not have write access to that folder. Does anybody know hos applications should behave in that matter? Does anybody know of an document that describes stuff like that? Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
with W2k you can use
SHGetFolderPath()withCSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATAand place you application data there. ..have fun.. jk :cool: -
with W2k you can use
SHGetFolderPath()withCSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATAand place you application data there. ..have fun.. jk :cool:nope, I can't do that. MSDN states:
CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA
Version 5.0. File system directory that serves as a data repository for local (nonroaming) applications. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data.The "username" part of the sample path makes is unusable for application, that needs to save data in one place, that should be accessible among all the users on the computer. However, since you pointed my in the right direction, It might be the "CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA" CSIDL, that could be used. This saves data in a directory for all users. That migth prove interesting. Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
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Yes! Windows apps put their data in the Application Data folder (call some API call to find the location), I believe. Putting it in the Program Files directory is bad, because limited users on Windows XP do not have write access and will encounter an error. And I have the perfect document for you, but I left it at home :(. If you bug me by e-mail on Sunday, I can get it for you. It's a PPT presentation on how to make games work well with Windows XP (targeted towards game developers). It includes the specifics of all the API calls and such, and even gives a few pages of code on how to register an application extension at startup. I think it's definitely what you need. Anyway, if you don't want to wait, go to the DirectX Developers page, and look for the meltown presentations. It should have on about Windows XP, that's the one.
-Domenic Denicola- [CPUA 0x1337] Geekn MadHamster Creations
I think I have found out that it is SHGetFolderPath with CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA, that I should use. However, I would love to take a look at that Powerpoint presentation. Would you consider putting it online, here at CP? BTW: I think you company name is ultra-cool :suss: Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
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Does anybody know where Windows applications should put their application data? It seems that there are lots of games and programs that writes their non-userspecific data in the application directory "\Program Files\MyCompany\MyApp", which poses a huge problem if you do not have write access to that folder. Does anybody know hos applications should behave in that matter? Does anybody know of an document that describes stuff like that? Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
In the MSDN Library:
- User Interface Design and Development
- User Interface Design & Usability
- Books
- The Window User Experience
- Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers
The information that Jens refered to is under
- Design Specifications and Guidelines
- Integrating with the System
- Using the File System
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In the MSDN Library:
- User Interface Design and Development
- User Interface Design & Usability
- Books
- The Window User Experience
- Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers
The information that Jens refered to is under
- Design Specifications and Guidelines
- Integrating with the System
- Using the File System
Thanks, that was it! Now I know everything that I need know regarding Windows filesystem standards. Thnaks a bunch guys! Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
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Yes! Windows apps put their data in the Application Data folder (call some API call to find the location), I believe. Putting it in the Program Files directory is bad, because limited users on Windows XP do not have write access and will encounter an error. And I have the perfect document for you, but I left it at home :(. If you bug me by e-mail on Sunday, I can get it for you. It's a PPT presentation on how to make games work well with Windows XP (targeted towards game developers). It includes the specifics of all the API calls and such, and even gives a few pages of code on how to register an application extension at startup. I think it's definitely what you need. Anyway, if you don't want to wait, go to the DirectX Developers page, and look for the meltown presentations. It should have on about Windows XP, that's the one.
-Domenic Denicola- [CPUA 0x1337] Geekn MadHamster Creations
I found the presentation at http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/corpevents/meltdown2001/ppt/GamingWinXP.ppt
-Domenic Denicola- [CPUA 0x1337] Geekn MadHamster Creations
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I found the presentation at http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/corpevents/meltdown2001/ppt/GamingWinXP.ppt
-Domenic Denicola- [CPUA 0x1337] Geekn MadHamster Creations
Just to make it a link and so I could download the file.... http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/corpevents/meltdown2001/ppt/GamingWinXP.ppt
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Does anybody know where Windows applications should put their application data? It seems that there are lots of games and programs that writes their non-userspecific data in the application directory "\Program Files\MyCompany\MyApp", which poses a huge problem if you do not have write access to that folder. Does anybody know hos applications should behave in that matter? Does anybody know of an document that describes stuff like that? Christian Skovdal Andersen Don't mention the war...
Personally, I think you should give the users an option of putting in the default/standard location or the place of their choice. I despise it when programs install themselves or their/my data in the 'standard' place. I keep all of my data on one disk partition and back the whole thing up periodically. My OS is a separate partition that I don't back up nearly as often.