What's the purpose of the ignore_my_docs file on the SD card?

Good question,

Any card I insert in my 5455 that does not have "My Documents" folder get a
zero size file called ignore_my_docs, I would think it's a new way of
telling the OS that this device doesnt have "My Documents" folder and use
the root folder instead !!

Anyone knows for sure?

"Jova" <Name@dot.com> wrote in message
news:uhQ0a.165464$HG.26733219@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> What's the purpose of the ignore_my_docs file on the SD card?
>
>

The purpose is to speed up the Open File dialog.

When a program such as Pocket Word displays the Open File dialog, all
the related documents are displayed for selection. If you have a large
memory card installed, then it can take a HUGE amount of time for the
OS to look through it to find all the documents associated with the
program. However, if the OS sees a file called ignore_my_docs (no file
type) in the root directory, it doesn't scan the card - thus
displaying the list MUCH faster.

Of course, you can still open a file on the card by simply selecting
the file from the File Explorer or by specifying the card folder
directly in the Open File dialog.

David Shier
www.shier.com
www.BluetoothNews.com

On Fri, 7 Feb 2003 10:36:47 -0500, "Can't help it" <No@Spam.internet>
wrote:

>Good question,
>
>Any card I insert in my 5455 that does not have "My Documents" folder get a
>zero size file called ignore_my_docs, I would think it's a new way of
>telling the OS that this device doesnt have "My Documents" folder and use
>the root folder instead !!
>
>Anyone knows for sure?
>
>"Jova" <Name@dot.com> wrote in message
>news:uhQ0a.165464$HG.26733219@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
>> What's the purpose of the ignore_my_docs file on the SD card?
>>
>>
>

"Jova" <Name@dot.com> wrote:

>What's the purpose of the ignore_my_docs file on the SD card?
>

I'm offline as I type this so I can't look it up but I wrote up
exactly what that file does at www.pocketpcthought.com several months
ago. Search for ignore_my_docs and then put Ed Hansberry in the author
box. It should bring it up on the first page of results.
--
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Ed Hansberry (Please do *NOT* email me. Post here for the benefit of all)
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices www.pocketpc.com
What is an MVP? - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
ActiveSync problems? - http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/support/help/activesync.asp

David Shier <dashier.NOSPAM@pacbell.net> wrote:

>However, if the OS sees a file called ignore_my_docs (no file
>type) in the root directory, it doesn't scan the card - thus
>displaying the list MUCH faster.

Actually, it works the other way. If it sees the Ignore_my_docs file,
it scans everything, ignoring the My Docs substructure. If the file is
gone, the scan is much faster because it only looks at that folder and
subfolders.
--
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Ed Hansberry (Please do *NOT* email me. Post here for the benefit of all)
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices www.pocketpc.com
What is an MVP? - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
ActiveSync problems? - http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/support/help/activesync.asp