files not visible in Explorer...

[Lykho]

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.

 

[Corrine]

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?

 

[Lykho]

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!

 

[karlsnooks]

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.

 

[Orbital Shark]

A few applications also install & look for data in C:\users\[your user]\appdata

 

[karlsnooks]

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

 

[Lykho]

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)

 

[Corrine]

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.

 

[Lykho]

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.

 

[Corrine]

You're welcome.

Can we consider your problem solved? If so, just click the red triangle and type "solved" in the box that pops up.

 

[Lykho]

You're welcome.

Can we consider your problem solved? If so, just click the red triangle and type "solved" in the box that pops up.

well, I don't see any explanation for why the files I originally added en mass are visible to me in Explorer but those that I add to the pile now and then (new samples, new save files) appear as if not to exist, so the mystery certainly isn't solved.

edit:
in fact, I haven't managed to find a way to access all the files in that folder

search won't reveal them, and even using the program itself to copy-paste the save folder to location outside of program files won't do the trick--it asks for permission twice, and I give it, but then I discover only the files that were visible in explorer were moved. all the new stuff I want to backup remains in place...

edit 2:
moreover, I'm talking primarily about the "patches" not "projects".
unable to make modifications to the files in its Program Files location, I can't manage the samples in the "patches" folder (and I can't locate them elsewhere or the program won't find and load them).

it seems like the only real work around if I can't get permissions on my own files is to reinstall the whole program elsewhere. is that really the only practical option?

 

[Corrine]

I don't know if this tutorial will help: How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista and Windows 7. If not, you may want to take a closer look at the FAQ pages at the link I posted, the tutorials and videos on the Support page or ask in the FL Studio Image Line forum.

 

[Lykho]

...you may want to take a closer look at the FAQ pages at the link I posted, the tutorials and videos on the Support page or ask in the FL Studio Image Line forum.

since I didn't face this problem with this program on my old O/S, I wouldn't consider it something to be resolved on the FL side of things.

I don't know if this tutorial will help: How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista and Windows 7.

is this tutorial any good for someone on 32bit? because I tried taking ownership once before (in attempting to acquire the old style WordPad) with a sevenforums install, only to learn later that it only works on the 64bit version.

 

[Corrine]

since I didn't face this problem with this program on my old O/S, I wouldn't consider it something to be resolved on the FL side of things.

Windows 7 is not the same as your old OS. As I said before, the Program Files folders are meant for storing installed programs. The FL Studio recommendation is to create separate folders in the user directory -- separate from the FL Studio installation.

Taking ownership is not limited to 64-bit OS.

 

[Lykho]

As I said before, the Program Files folders are meant for storing installed programs. The FL Studio recommendation is to create separate folders in the user directory -- separate from the FL Studio installation.

and as I tried to clarify, that's for project save files, not raw data for projects (the sound bank) (which is equally important to make backups of).

hopefully taking ownership will resolve the matter. cheers.