Folder quirks

[SuperTech]

I created a new folder in a program file like this: Computer\C\program
files\Soundforge\Transfer, or at least I thought I did. I saved data
to the file, and to my horror, when I used Computer on the menu to
drill down to my data, I couldn't find the folder. The application,
however, could read and write to the folder. I finally found my data
buried in a hidden file like this:
Computer\C\Users\John\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
files\Soundforge\Transfer. I understand saving data for each user,
even though I am the only user on this machine, but I don't get the
Local\Virtual Store thing. What is this cryptic folder tree all
about? And when I access the folder from within the application, the
folder shows no files, however, I get a button on top that says
"Compatability Files". When I click that, all my files appear. The
application does not need to run in Compatibility mode. I couldn't
find anything in the Help files about file structure. When and how
does Vista decide that newly created folders and data should be stored
in this section? What is the Compatibility Files button all about?
Anything I should look out for? Thanks

 

[dev]

/SuperTech/ said:

I created a new folder in a program file like this: Computer\C\program
files\Soundforge\Transfer, or at least I thought I did. I saved data
to the file, and to my horror, when I used Computer on the menu to
drill down to my data, I couldn't find the folder. The application,
however, could read and write to the folder. I finally found my data
buried in a hidden file like this:
Computer\C\Users\John\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
files\Soundforge\Transfer. I understand saving data for each user,
even though I am the only user on this machine, but I don't get the
Local\Virtual Store thing. What is this cryptic folder tree all
about? And when I access the folder from within the application, the
folder shows no files, however, I get a button on top that says
"Compatability Files". When I click that, all my files appear. The
application does not need to run in Compatibility mode. I couldn't
find anything in the Help files about file structure. When and how
does Vista decide that newly created folders and data should be stored
in this section? What is the Compatibility Files button all about?
Anything I should look out for? Thanks

User Access Control (UAC) is confounding you. Read this...
http://www.dcr.net/~w-clayton/Vista/Vista_Information.htm

 

[SuperTech]

Okay, I read all the stuff about UAC and virtualization. Quite
frankly, I think MS didn't give this much thought as for future
consequences. So from what I can gather, if I can get my applications
to store my files somewhere other than a "protected" place like
Program Files, they will be visible and accessible through the normal
Explorer-like search and folder trees.