dir_create_recurse and Vista

[CALocklin]

I don't have a Vista machine available to test this on but have suspicions that it may be a problem.

Can anybody verify whether or not there are issues using Dir_create_recurse() to build a new folder under C:\Users\<UserName>\Application Data\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8?

Note: I'm not sure that the path defined above is exactly correct for Vista. I get the base path from the registry and just tack on the A5 stuff. I presume the path I use should be correct because it works on XP and the registry key is the same in both systems. Wherever the A5 files go in Vista is what I'm looking for. I want to add a new folder under the "Alpha Five Version 8" folder but it doesn't seem to be working. However, I'm not sure if the problem is with creating the folder, adding the file to the folder, or something else.

[APFCClyde]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Cal, I believe the path you are looking for is:

C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8

Vistas Application Data directory is accessible via the AppData directory.

[CALocklin]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Yes. I had the path wrong in my message but that path name isn't the problem. (It was a bit hard for me to verify the exact path when I don't have a Vista machine but I do get the path from the registry at: HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\AppData)

Can anybody verify whether or not there are issues using Dir_create_recurse() to build a new folder? (It works fine in XP so I'm wondering if there is some security issue that's keeping this from being created in Vista.)

In other words, assuming that the AppData path is correct, can the autoexec script add "MyTestFolder" as shown here:

C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8\MyTestFolder

HMMM, now that I look at that, is it possible that the value in the AppData key doesn't include the "Roaming" folder? If not, how do I know for sure that "Roaming" is needed?

[APFCClyde]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Yup the key does have it:

F:\Users\Clyde Tilley\AppData\Roaming

straight from the registry on my machine.

Might be a UAC issue. I have it turned off, so I have no problem creating. I would turn it back on to test it for you, but when I tried that once before it scr**ed up a my backup app, so I'm hesitant to try it again.

Maybe someone else with UAC turned on can try it. Since this should be an allowable directory (apps need to write here) I wouldn't think it would be UAC, bit can't think of any other reason why it wouldn't work.

[csda1]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Hi Cal,

I don't have a Vista machine available to test this on but have suspicions that it may be a problem.

Can anybody verify whether or not there are issues using Dir_create_recurse() to build a new folder under C:\Users\<UserName>\Application Data\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8?

Note: I'm not sure that the path defined above is exactly correct for Vista. I get the base path from the registry and just tack on the A5 stuff. I presume the path I use should be correct because it works on XP and the registry key is the same in both systems. Wherever the A5 files go in Vista is what I'm looking for. I want to add a new folder under the "Alpha Five Version 8" folder but it doesn't seem to be working. However, I'm not sure if the problem is with creating the folder, adding the file to the folder, or something else.

I don't know if going to the registry key is the right way in A5 to do this. To get some key directories and path (independent of version), I use code like this, which should work always to the future (essentially putting path issues in Alpha Software's court). However, for older version code, you might be forced to getting registry keys, but that would always be my last resort.

dim a5ver as n
a5ver=version()
dim addinsys as c
dim addinusr as c
dim exenam as c
dim apppth as c
dim addinlib as c
IF (a5ver)>=8
    addinsys=a5_getaddinsinstalledfolder()
    addinusr=a5_getaddinsinstalledfolder("user")
    exenam=a5.get_exe_name()
    apppth=a5_getapplicationdatafolder()
    addinlib=a5_getaddinlibraryfilename()
ELSE
    addinsys=A5.GET_EXE_PATH()+chr(92)+"addins_installed"
    addinusr=addinsys
    exenam="Alpha5.exe"
    apppth=A5.GET_EXE_PATH()
    addinlib=A5.GET_EXE_PATH()+chr(92)+"addin_library.aex"
END IF

As to the Vista issue, I have a Vista machine, but no A5V8 on it, so I can't check that issue out for you.

[CALocklin]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Well, here's what I found out tonight. The path is NOT the issue. (But thanks Ira, I wasn't aware of those a5v8 commands for getting the A5 folders.)

I got access to a Vista machine which had the folder:
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8

It did NOT have a "toolboxes" folder.

My autoexec included the following script section:

base_fname = "\MyFileName.txt"
appdata = registry.sys_get("HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\AppData")
addin_root = appdata + "\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version " + ltrim(str(version()))
toolbox_path = addin_root + "\toolboxes"
file_name = toolbox_path + base_fname
IF .not. file.exists( toolbox_path + "\." )
   dir_create_recurse( toolbox_path )
END IF

THIS ROUTINE CREATES THE SPECIFIED FOLDER PATH PERFECTLY EVERY TIME IN XP.

The folder was NOT created on the Vista machine after running the autoexec.

I got an error message which was probably not a direct result of the Dir_Create_Recurse() command. The error message said the PATH "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8\toolboxes\MyFileName.txt" could not be found. Note that the error referred to the path but it actually showed the full path and file name.

Shortly after attempting to create the folder, the script tests to see if the file is there (obviously the file should be there after the first time the app runs) with another complicated line of code:

file_there = file.exists( file_name )

Although this would seem to match with the error message, the "file.exists()" function normally doesn't (and shouldn't) cause an error message when the file isn't found. After all, that's the purpose of the command!

Since the Dir_Create_Recurse() command knows nothing about the actual filename, I have to assume that the error message occurred when the script attempted to create the file a bit later using:

fp = file.create( file_name, FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE )

No attempt is ever made to actually read the file from the autoexec. (At least, not unless File.Exists() returns .T.)

I was able to open Explorer in Vista and create the "toolboxes" folder with no problem. (In other words, it doesn't appear to be an access/security problem.) After creating the folder manually and running the routine again, the file was placed in the folder by the autoexec routine as it should have been. This indicates to me that everything was working correctly, including getting the path correct, except that the folder was not able to be created with the Dir_Create_Recurse() command.

My conclusion: The Dir_Create_Recurse() function can't be relied on in Vista because it doesn't work there as expected. This seems like a major issue to me.

So, back to my original question - Can anybody verify whether or not there are issues using Dir_create_recurse() to build a new folder on a VISTA machine under C:\Users\....\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8?

Edit: Or possibly the problem is in the original File.Exists() function and Vista doesn't like the 'structure' I used for checking for the existence of the "toolboxes" folder by checking for the "." file? (Who knows how many long time standards have been changed in Vista?)

If you do it in the Interactive Editor and it works, I suggest trying it in the autoexec and restarting the app to check it in "real life" - just in case.

Yes, there are workarounds to my problem. Since I've already created one, please don't waste time telling me how to work around this issue. I only want to find out if this problem can be confirmed by another developer.

[CALocklin]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

I received a private message from someone who ran a similar test on his machine and it worked fine for him.

So, I'm baffled but can't run any additional tests at this time because I don't have a Vista machine readily available. If I ever get more info about what caused this problem, I'll post it here.

[APFCClyde]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

Sorry Cal, I forgot to mention that I had tested it & it worked - but again I have UAC turned off. We would really need for someone with UAC turned ON to test it to see if there is a problem. However, since this is in the user directory, it shouldn't be a problem. (that's why it's there)

[CALocklin]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

I believe the other guy did have UAC turned on.

I wish I had a Vista machine because I'd really like to know why it didn't work for me (my client) on at least 2 machines but it seems to be working for others. There has to be something different about what I was doing but I can't figure out what it would be. Oh well, one of these days I will be forced to update to Vista and then maybe I'll figure it out.

"However, since this is in the user directory, it shouldn't be a problem. (that's why it's there)"
I agree. That's why it seems so baffling to me. The fact that it works in XP makes it even more baffling.

Grasping at straws, maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's actually part of a function in an aex file that's loaded with Load_Library() early in the autoexec then the function is also called from the autoexec?? On the other hand, I keep coming back to the fact that it works in XP.

[Lenny Forziati]

Re: dir_create_recurse and Vista

The following was done with a non-admin local Vista account:

?osversion()
= "6.0"

?osname()
= "Microsoft Windows Vista"

?registry.sys_get("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA")
= "1"	'UAC enabled

dn = a5_getapplicationdatafolder() + "\folder1"
?dn
= "C:\Users\TestUserNA\AppData\Roaming\Alpha Software\Alpha Five Version 8\folder1"

?a5_is_path_valid(dn1)
= .F.

?dir_create_recurse(dn)
= .T.

?a5_is_path_valid(dn1)
= .T.