File Attributes

[justinlee]

I downloaded a flash video from YouTube using 2 different programs, but both the same file.

One of the files has File Attribute A the other File Attribute AI

Can someone explain to me what these mean?

Thanks.

 

[SundRance]

A = Archived, easy enough, I = Indexed, but I'm not sure what that means. Not Content-Indexed?

From TechGuy.org:

Marking a file or folder with this attribute indicates to Windows that it should be indexed. This means that its content is analysed and stored in an Index file, a lookup that Windows uses for File searches. Maintaining an index helps to ensure that searches are much faster, and indexing a file's content allows searches to realize that the file matches even if its title doesn't contain the search terms.

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

 

[UsernameIssues]

If a file has the "A" attribute, then it needs to be archived. Many backup programs clear or remove the "A" attribute from a file once the program has backed up the file.

test_file1.txt has the "A" attribute
test_file2.txt has the "A" attribute
test_file3.txt has the "A" attribute

Run a backup program and now you might see...

test_file1.txt does not have the "A" attribute
test_file2.txt does not have the "A" attribute
test_file3.txt does not have the "A" attribute

If you edit test_file2, the the operating system puts the "A" attribute back on.

test_file1.txt does not have the "A" attribute
test_file2.txt has the "A" attribute
test_file3.txt does not have the "A" attribute

Then the next time that the backup program runs - the program can be set to only backup files that have that "A" attribute. So, only test_file2.txt gets backed up.



The "I" attribute is a bit more confusing - especially when the "N" attribute started showing via Windows Explorer in Vista and later. There are many places on the internet that says the the "N" attribute means that the file is not indexed... but Microsoft seems to say that "N" stands for Normal. A file can only be Normal when all other attributes have been cleared.

The "I" attribute does not mean that the file's content needs to be indexed or that the file's content has been indexed - the "I" attribute means that the file's contents is not allowed to be indexed. (The file's content has been excluded from the indexing process.)

Edit:hopefully clarified that statement above after seeing bbearen's post
Edit2: If this box is unchecked...

...then the "I" attribute should be on the file. Which is why I went with the "not allowed" verbiage. Maybe it was not the best choice of words.

Maybe I clicked a bit fast in the video. Pause it if need be.



To the OP's question - I'm not sure why one file got the "I" attribute and the other one did not. Were the both the same file type? (MP4, FLV, ...)

 

[F5ing]

And did both go into the same folder?

 

[UsernameIssues]

And did both go into the same folder?

Doh! I had that as one of my questions and I must have killed it during an edit.

(That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[F5ing]

All right. I guess I'll buy it.

 

[bbearren]

The "I" attribute merely means that the file has not been content indexed; doesn't mean it can't be, doesn't mean it shouldn't be, just that it hasn't been.

 

[no1x]

Bearren wrote:
> The "I" attribute merely means that
> the file has not been content indexed;
> doesn't mean it can't be,
> doesn't mean it shouldn't be,
> just that it hasn't been.

You made that up. I couldn't decide between "has not been" or "shall not be" either. As it turned out, "shall not be" was right. That makes sense. That's the more useful information.

FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NOT_CONTENT_INDEXED
The file or directory is not to be indexed by the content indexing service.

Source:
File Attribute Constants (Windows)

-Mike

 

[BigFatBoy]

Indexing - Content - Attributes

Windows will index files by the extension if the file type is selected to be indexed. Windows should index by attributes only, or Windows can index by content of the file.

internet options properties\general tab\advanced button\file attributes\"Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties"

I have chosen to have Windows index work on almost every file type or file extension. I do *not want Windows to index by the content of the file. I have chosen the option to omit indexing by content.

YET, if I create a shortcut to any 'program'.exe file the shortcut will include a check box for:
"File is ready for archiving"
and/or
"Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties"

I think Windows is creating a problem for me, by checking both options, and especially the second option; index the contents.

Something is automatically checking both indexing options when I install a Program or application like MS Outlook.
Has anyone had this problem? and/or Does anyone know how to correct the behavior?
thank you