File Association

Question

Is there any way to associate a file with any other file means when any one try to copy any of those file, all associated files also copied.

Like OS protected hidden files that are copied when any of associated file is copied. Is there any way to do this in c# or other work around ?

Ok i'm going to narrow down by problem. What i'm going to achieve custom icon overlay for specific kind of files. I have implemented this by using a hidden file in a directory that contains name of files whose icons can be overlay. but my problem is that when any of file whose path is writen in that hidden file is moved, the overlay icons are set to default. May be code snippets given below will help to clear my question.

[ComVisible(false)]
[Guid("1fd5bae8-257a-461a-91ea-869a810e0ccc")]
public class MyIconOverlayHandlersBase : IShellIconOverlayIdentifier
{
    string fileName = string.Empty;

    #region Class Properties

    protected virtual string OverlayIconFilePath
    {
        get
        {
            return string.Empty;
        }
    }

    protected virtual string TargetDirectory
    {
        get
        {
            return string.Empty;
        }
    }

    protected virtual int Priority
    {
        get
        {
            return 0;  // 0-100 (0 is highest priority)
        }
    }

    protected virtual string FileNameStart
    {
        get
        {
            return fileName;
        }

        set
        {
            fileName = value;
        }
    }

    #endregion Class Properties

    #region IShellIconOverlayIdentifier Members

    public int IsMemberOf(string path, uint attributes)
    {
        List<string> filesName = IsHiddenVDFile(path);

        if (filesName.Count <= 0)
        {
            return (int)HRESULT.S_FALSE;
        }

        try
        {
            string f = Path.GetFileName(path);
            string newFile = filesName.FirstOrDefault(t => t.Equals(f));
            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(newFile))
            {
                unchecked
                {
                    return
                        Path.GetFileName(path).StartsWith(newFile, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase) ?
                        (int)HRESULT.S_OK :
                        (int)HRESULT.S_FALSE;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                return (int)HRESULT.S_FALSE;
            }
        }
        catch
        {
            unchecked
            {
                return (int)HRESULT.E_FAIL;
            }
        }
    }

    private List<string> GetFilesName(string info)
    {
        List<string> files = new List<string>();
        StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(info);
        string fileNames = reader.ReadToEnd();
        string[] f = fileNames.Split('\r');
        foreach (string file in f)
        {
            files.Add(file.Trim());
        }
        reader.Close();
        return files;
    }

    private List<string> IsHiddenVDFile(string path)
    {
        DirectoryInfo info = new DirectoryInfo(path).Parent;
        if (info == null)
        {
            return new List<string>();
        }
        FileInfo[] files = info.GetFiles();

        var filtered = files.Select(f => f).Where(f => (f.Attributes & FileAttributes.Hidden) == FileAttributes.Hidden);

        foreach (var f in filtered)
        {
            if (f.Name.Equals("01AVDNames.txt"))
            {
                return GetFilesName(f.FullName);
            }
        }
        return new List<string>();
    }

    public int GetOverlayInfo(IntPtr iconFileBuffer, int iconFileBufferSize, out int iconIndex, out uint flags)
    {
        string fname = OverlayIconFilePath;
        int bytesCount = System.Text.Encoding.Unicode.GetByteCount(fname);
        byte[] bytes = System.Text.Encoding.Unicode.GetBytes(fname);
        if (bytes.Length + 2 < iconFileBufferSize)
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < bytes.Length; i++)
            {
                Marshal.WriteByte(iconFileBuffer, i, bytes[i]);
            }
            //write the "\0\0"
            Marshal.WriteByte(iconFileBuffer, bytes.Length, 0);
            Marshal.WriteByte(iconFileBuffer, bytes.Length + 1, 0);
        }

        iconIndex = 0;
        flags = (int)(HFLAGS.ISIOI_ICONFILE | HFLAGS.ISIOI_ICONINDEX);
        return (int)HRESULT.S_OK;
    }

    public int GetPriority(out int priority)
    {
        priority = Priority;
        return (int)HRESULT.S_OK;
    }

Can you give us more details on what you want to accomplish? — meilke, Sep 16 '13 at 13:33
Other than running a constant script that will look for the file in the specified directory and when it fails to find it, it will move the other files - I see no other way of doing it. Either that or the method exceeds my knowledge. — Sharon Dorot, Sep 16 '13 at 13:35
What "OS protected hidden files" do you refer to? I'm aware of no such behaviour. — Dan Puzey, Sep 16 '13 at 13:39
Now that you explained your problem your question is MUCH more clear, thank you. Your question will likely be re-opened now. — Scott Chamberlain, Sep 16 '13 at 14:06
@ScottChamberlain thanks. Sorry from me for not clearly conveying my problem — Muhammad Umar, Sep 16 '13 at 14:11

Omri Btian · Answer 1 · 2013-09-16T13:47:19.050

1

You can use FileSystemWatcher to catch a file being copied , and then copy any file you want with it.

edited Sep 16 '13 at 13:47

answered Sep 16 '13 at 13:40

Omri Btian

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Yes, although the FileSystemWatcher is not without it's problems: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/239988/filesystemwatcher-vs-polling-to-watch-for-file-changes – Arran Sep 16 '13 at 13:43
What if i have more then one associated files in multiple directories. – Muhammad Umar Sep 16 '13 at 13:51
1

You also have the issue that your code has to be running at all times for this to work, which is difficult to ensure... – Dan Puzey Sep 16 '13 at 14:04
Any work around ?? Any other method to achieve this behaviour @DanPuzey – Muhammad Umar Sep 16 '13 at 14:23

File Association

1 Answers1