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Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:40 pm
by James Bott
This one has me confused.

I developed a small application on my Windows 10 computer. Today I installed it on another Windows 10 computer. There was an error when running it that was due to the limited rights, which I fixed. For some reason I noticed there were only two CDX files in the directory when there should be five.

I ran the app and everything was working fine. I made a separate small test app to create all the indexes and check for their existance using the File() function. Well all five are seen by the test program but not in Windows Explorer--Windows Explorer only shows two of them, but not the other three.

OK, you are all thinking that maybe they are "hidden" but I checked that and the "show hidden files" was already on.

I also tried rebooting the computer, but everything is still the same.

I note that all five indexes show in Windows Explorer on my computer.

Very strange. Anyone else ever seen this?

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:25 am
by Enrico Maria Giordano
Try Explorer -> Display -> Options - > Folder options -> Display and then remove the check from Hide protected system files (sorry for the translation).

EMG

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:03 pm
by James Bott
Enrico,

Well, that is a setting I never heard about. The computer is in use right now, but I will let you know what I find when I can get to it.

Thanks.

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:28 pm
by James Bott
Enrico,

Well I tried checking my system. The actual sequence to the setting is:

Explorer, View tab, Options, Change folder and search options, View tab, Advanced Settings, Hide protected operating and system files


It is set to hide them on my computer, yet I have never observed this issue on my computer which I have been using for several years now.

Still I am anxious to see if changing that setting fixes it on the other computer. Not sure why it would apply to some CDXs but not all CDXs.

James

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:48 pm
by TimStone
James,

When Microsoft released the Spring Creators update, they turned off Network Discovery, a number of essential services, and also some of the settings reverted to default. They never released a full list of the changes, and never respond to requests for support to get back network discovery options.

It may well be that what you are experiencing is a side effect from that update. For those of us who use ADS it was a nightmare. I have also seen strange issues with Windows Explorer in the latest version of Win 10.

Good Luck

Tim

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 4:31 pm
by James Bott
Tim,

Thanks for the input.

It just occurred to me, that I can add a check for the needed CDXs into the program. Actually, I already had:

if ! file(work.cdx)
…(reindex)
endif

For each CDX, but when I looked at the directory not all of them were there. That is what started the confusion.

Anyhow, now I know the program was doing what it was supposed to be, and it is just a visibility issue in Windows Explorer. However, now I will never trust Explorer again.

I will check the version numbers on both PC's to see if that is the issue. However, I am pretty sure they are both up to date.

-------------------------------------
It's always something -Roseanne Roseannadanna

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:58 pm
by James Bott
Just an update. Turning off "Hide protected operating and system files" didn't make any difference. Still only 2 of the 5 CDXs are visible. I tried rebooting after changing the setting and that didn't work either.

At least the program is seeing them...

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:26 am
by Enrico Maria Giordano
It's very strange. How is that a file is there but it's not visible in any way? Did you try using dir command from command prompt?

EMG

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:38 pm
by James Bott
Enrico,

Yes it is the strangest thing I have seen in my 33 years of programming.

I did try looking from the cmd prompt, the PowerShell prompt, and the Admin PowerShell prompt. In all cases only the two indexes show.

I even tried checking for the indexes while the program was running just in case they were being made at the start and deleted at the end. Still not visible.

It is a mystery.

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:45 pm
by Enrico Maria Giordano
Can you try to run this sample in that folder?

Code: Select all  Expand view
#include "Fivewin.ch"


FUNCTION MAIN()

    ? FILE( "your file name" )

    RETURN NIL


EMG

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:02 pm
by stefano
I have not found files and found them here:

C: \ Users \ Home \ AppData \ Local \ VirtualStore \ .....

Home = username

Stefano

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:08 pm
by Enrico Maria Giordano
Stefano, check your SET DEFAULT and SET PATH settings.

EMG

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:24 pm
by stefano
was not a progam FW but I did not have permission to admin

Stefano

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:22 am
by James Bott
Enrico,

Yes, I already did that. In fact the program was already checking to see if each index existed, then creating it if it didn't (see one of my previous messages above).

Just now I did create another test program as you suggested, and it shows true for each of the five indexes, yet only two of them are visible with Windows Explorer (or the DOS prompt).

Re: Invisible CDX files

PostPosted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 6:03 am
by Otto
Hello James,
have you tried with TotalCommander (Show hidden file - Show system files).
BTW what is the name of the database indexes you do not see.
Best regads
Otto