Where can I find a listing of what Microsoft recommends for program install directories, application data, etc? (e.g. Best Practices)
That shows how to get the directories, and reading it gives some good clues as to what should go where. But is there a "Best Practices" document somewhere that gives more explicit information?
Jim Mischel
2010-09-07 19:29:09
@Jim: Thanks @Forgotten: Have any other links?
yeungling
2010-09-07 20:23:35
The description of the special folders says a lot. Add this page: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762494.aspx and you have the whole picture. Still, you have to know about roaming and non-roaming user when working with (local)ApplicationData and so on, but thats another gem. :)
Stefan
2010-09-07 22:04:16
+1
A:
The comprehensive document on the subject is the "Windows User Experience", which used to be published as a book, but can now be found online in many places (such as http://www.scribd.com/doc/36857902/Windows-User-Experience)
Bob
2010-09-07 19:34:36
I also found this: Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines. http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/aa511258.aspx. I haven't yet found anything about the directories, though.
Jim Mischel
2010-09-07 21:30:35
+1
A:
Windows File System Namespace Usage Guidelines: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=88AD7E7C-4068-48B8-9503-E160A6693BBA&displaylang=en
Download the PDF.
Most of the document is specific to Windows Vista. The last section, titled "Accessing Well Known Folder Locations," discusses the SHGetFolderPath (Windows XP and earlier) and SHGetKnownFolderPath (Windows Vista) functions, which are what the .NET Environment.GetFolderPath method relies upon.
The Environment.SpecialFolder enumeration has been greatly expanded in .NET 4.0. It includes a lot more values than the 3.5 version did.
Jim Mischel
2010-09-07 21:53:11