Where to write program data in Windows 7?

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Where do I update my program to create user data? The program data needs to be global to all users on the machine and must not be in a hidden or protected folder because occasionally users do have to access the data to get a file or place a file. Do I need to just do this the Win 3.1 way and write to "c:\ProgramNameHere"?

Posted 18-Jun-10 7:05am

Koolski

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I always thought that the Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonApplicationData) was the place for this sort of data. Although I do not know if it meets your criteria regarding "The program data needs to be global to all users on the machine and must not be in a hidden or protected folder"

Posted 18-Jun-10 10:36am

Henry Minute

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DaveyM69 · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-18T10:34:00

"C:\ProgramData\" is the root folder. MS recommends using
"C:\ProgramData\Company\Application\"

To get the root folder, you can use this API:
SHGetSpecialFolderPath(0, szPath, CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA, TRUE)

Look on MSDN for CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA. This is for all users. You can also use CSIDL_APPDATA for the current user.

Don't forget you may have to create the folder hierarchy.