CSIDL_Common_AppData

[NewsArchive]

Hi.

My understanding is that my app's data files should be installed here
(CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA) if all users on a single machine will share the
same data. Two questions:

Does this work for all Windows versions whether or not they have enabled
file sharing, or just for Vista?

The 6.5 reference says this location cannot be written by Vista regular
users. Is that a typo, or do I have things mixed up?

Thanks,
Jim

[NewsArchive]

CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA will return different physical folder locations on
other operating systems.
On my W2K machines, it returns
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
On my Vista machines, it returns
C:\ProgramData

The documentation you reference is functionally but not literally correct.
Default permissions for any folders within C:\ProgramData are that the
creater/owner of a file has full control to it (so it is writeable for that
person). Other users can read it but not modify it.
To further confuse your users, C:\ProgramData is a hidden folder.

Jane

[NewsArchive]

Thanks, Jane

So, on a Vista machine, is there a location which lets all users
read/write the same data without first changing the permissions?

Jim

[NewsArchive]

Jim,

I think CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS is a good "standard place to please the Vista
UAC feature.

There is a SetupBuilder related posting on the Microsoft forum:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1213890&SiteID=1

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Thanks!

JHalpin

[NewsArchive]

It looks like CSIDL is being deprecated... any thoughts on the longevity
of an install that makes use of it?

JHalpin

[NewsArchive]

Jim,

Existing applications that use the SHGetFolderPath function and the CSIDL
will continue to work (including Vista, "Longhorn", "Fiji" and perhaps
"Vienna").

There are even new CSIDL that are only available in Vista and "Longhorn"
(e.g. CSIDL_PLAYLISTS, CSIDL_RESOURCES, etc.). The only way to go is CSIDL.

We already have internal installer support for SHGetKnownFolderPath, but
this will only work in Vista and "Longhorn". So you can only use this
function if you deploy your applications exclusively to Vista and
"Longhorn". Absolutely useless for the next two or three years.

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Ok, thanks for the info and for the great software.

JHalpin