files not visible in Explorer...

I have a program for which I need to save project data within its Program Files location in order for it to be displayed in the program.

I can drag-drop files into that folder, load the program and see the files where they should be ...but then when I go to that folder through Windows Explorer, it appears empty

or, rather, it isn't empty (I added a whole library of files a week ago), but anything I've added recently doesn't appear.

what on earth is going on?! is there some special 'hidden' default protection on Program Files contents? I can't find any setting for that folder that is unique and would explain this behavior.

Hi, Lykho.

I am guessing it might have something to do with permissions. By design, the Program Files folders are meant for storing installed programs. User stuff (project data, documents you create, files you download, so on) are meant to go in your user folder (Documents, Downloads, Music...).

What happens if the program is installed in a folder created in your user folder or a folder created in Libraries?

Corrine said:

What happens if the program is installed in a folder created in your user folder or a folder created in Libraries?

good question. I'm a rookie, I didn't even contemplate installing a program anywhere other than C:/Program Files!

Programs do not look for their data in the %programfiles% folder.

Contact the software manufacturer or software author or read the program documentation as to where the data files are to be kept.

and in "roaming". Ah for the good old days when you knew where to find the program's data.

karlsnooks said:

Programs do not look for their data in the %programfiles% folder.

Contact the software manufacturer or software author or read the program documentation as to where the data files are to be kept.

"C:\Program Files\FLStudio\Data\Patches\FL samples"

obviously it wants to find something within "FLStudio\Data\Patches\", which I located within "Program Files" like I do all programs (since I was unaware that Windows wouldn't want to let me view/explore what I put in there (I say 'view', because I can still 'access' and 'edit' files found there by that program and other programs through their 'open file' browsing, merely not through Windows Explorer)

Hi, Lykho.

From FL Studio Online Reference Manual, it appears that even though the default is to save your projects to the default directory, it is recommended that you create separate directories for your projects.

Save locations - FL Studio will, by default, save your projects to its installation directory (..\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\Data\Projects). We strongly recommend that you add some extra search folder locations (your own directories) and save your projects there. This will make backups simpler and will keep your files separate from the FL Studio installation.

Corrine said:

Hi, Lykho.

From FL Studio Online Reference Manual, it appears that even though the default is to save your projects to the default directory, it is recommended that you create separate directories for your projects.

Save locations - FL Studio will, by default, save your projects to its installation directory (..\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\Data\Projects). We strongly recommend that you add some extra search folder locations (your own directories) and save your projects there. This will make backups simpler and will keep your files separate from the FL Studio installation.

wow, no kidding.

thanks for that.

You're welcome.

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