I've recently upgraded this machine from XP to Win-7. I now have a ProgramData directory which contains subdirecroies for several programs that I've reinstalled after the upgrade. In addition I created a directory for an application (Winquake), that I've used for years, that doesn't create a ProgramData folder for itself.
The directory I created contains quite a lot of data files that are related to Winquake. I have unrestricted access to this folder and since I created appropriate file type associations with the program, I can double click a data file there and Winquake can open them, modify them and rewrite them just fine. I also have an Excell spreadsheet that calls Winquake with a data file name as a command line agrument. That works fine as well.
My problem is that Winquake has a file selection dialog box for selecting the directory that contains it's data files. That dialog shows pretty much everything I'd expect to see, but for some reason does not include the ProgramData directory (ie. the directory Windows created) or the subdirectory I created thre. But it does show "Program Files" and also includes another subdirectory that I added directly under the C: root (named Scratch). And I can select my Scratch directory from the Winquake file dialog and use it with no problems.
So what's the deal with ProgramData? Evidently Windows is enforcing some sort of permission restrictions. I was under the impression that there were restrictions on arbitrary access to Program Files, but that access to ProgramData was unrestricted.
I realize that I could (and maybe should) move the Winquake data files into My Documents but at this point, doing so would be kind of a pain in the neck.
The directory I created contains quite a lot of data files that are related to Winquake. I have unrestricted access to this folder and since I created appropriate file type associations with the program, I can double click a data file there and Winquake can open them, modify them and rewrite them just fine. I also have an Excell spreadsheet that calls Winquake with a data file name as a command line agrument. That works fine as well.
My problem is that Winquake has a file selection dialog box for selecting the directory that contains it's data files. That dialog shows pretty much everything I'd expect to see, but for some reason does not include the ProgramData directory (ie. the directory Windows created) or the subdirectory I created thre. But it does show "Program Files" and also includes another subdirectory that I added directly under the C: root (named Scratch). And I can select my Scratch directory from the Winquake file dialog and use it with no problems.
So what's the deal with ProgramData? Evidently Windows is enforcing some sort of permission restrictions. I was under the impression that there were restrictions on arbitrary access to Program Files, but that access to ProgramData was unrestricted.
I realize that I could (and maybe should) move the Winquake data files into My Documents but at this point, doing so would be kind of a pain in the neck.