Adding some information to a file

Adding some information to a file

Hello I store in my application directory thousands of files.
I want to attach a string(id) to each of the files so when I'll look for 
this string I will not have to open the file, read it get the string and 
close the file.
What is the best way to do it ?
Thanks,
Janiv Ratson

date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 14:25:13 +0200 author: Janiv Ratson

Re: Adding some information to a file

Janiv Ratson wrote:
> Hello I store in my application directory thousands of files.
> I want to attach a string(id) to each of the files so when I'll look
> for this string I will not have to open the file, read it get the
> string and close the file.
> What is the best way to do it ?

If the directory is in a NTFS partition you could use the NTFS property set storage or a custom NTFS stream. Otherwise, you'll have to maintain some sort of private database in a file, registry key, etc.

-- 
Jim Barry, MVP for Windows SDK

date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 13:42:35 +0100 author: Jim Barry

Re: Adding some information to a file

Jim Barry mentioned NTFS streams.

If you limit your application to Windows XP and Windows 2003,
you can create and embed streams.

You can then use the FindFirstStream, FindNextStream API to locate
WIN32_FIND_STREAM_DATA stream data which contains a stream
name.  You can then ignore the file when it contains an embedded stream
with a stream name of your choice.

You don't need to open and close any files.  Just search for them!

"Jim Barry"  wrote in message 
news:erS5CLHtFHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
Janiv Ratson wrote:
> Hello I store in my application directory thousands of files.
> I want to attach a string(id) to each of the files so when I'll look
> for this string I will not have to open the file, read it get the
> string and close the file.
> What is the best way to do it ?

If the directory is in a NTFS partition you could use the NTFS property set 
storage or a custom NTFS stream. Otherwise, you'll have to maintain some 
sort of private database in a file, registry key, etc.

-- 
Jim Barry, MVP for Windows SDK

date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 13:39:27 -0400 author: Michael Phillips, Jr. 0.c0m

Re: Adding some information to a file

Correction the NTFS stream API is only available on Windows 2003 and 
LongHorn.


"Michael Phillips, Jr." <mphillips53@nospam.jun0.c0m> wrote in message 
news:uYKj$wJtFHA.1252@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Jim Barry mentioned NTFS streams.
>
> If you limit your application to Windows XP and Windows 2003,
> you can create and embed streams.
>
> You can then use the FindFirstStream, FindNextStream API to locate
> WIN32_FIND_STREAM_DATA stream data which contains a stream
> name.  You can then ignore the file when it contains an embedded stream
> with a stream name of your choice.
>
> You don't need to open and close any files.  Just search for them!
>
>
> "Jim Barry"  wrote in message 
> news:erS5CLHtFHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Janiv Ratson wrote:
>> Hello I store in my application directory thousands of files.
>> I want to attach a string(id) to each of the files so when I'll look
>> for this string I will not have to open the file, read it get the
>> string and close the file.
>> What is the best way to do it ?
>
> If the directory is in a NTFS partition you could use the NTFS property 
> set storage or a custom NTFS stream. Otherwise, you'll have to maintain 
> some sort of private database in a file, registry key, etc.
>
> -- 
> Jim Barry, MVP for Windows SDK
>

date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 13:41:38 -0400 author: Michael Phillips, Jr. 0.c0m