File Structure

PraxxtorCruel · 31 Dec 2011 at 07:42

Hi can someone explain the purpose of a directory structure as used in MS DOS & Windows?

Thanks

Deception · 31 Dec 2011 at 08:42

Any reason you want particularly want to know?

edscdk · 31 Dec 2011 at 08:46

To put files in.

PraxxtorCruel · 31 Dec 2011 at 09:01

edscdk said:
To put files in.

Thanks, I know the basics but I need it in detail and it seems to be hard to google this

Deception said:
Any reason you want particularly want to know?

Need it for a presentation.

edscdk · 31 Dec 2011 at 09:05

Other than making it easy for a human to work out what files are related to there is no purpose... Everything could just be in the root of c for all the computer cares

PraxxtorCruel · 31 Dec 2011 at 09:11

edscdk said:
Other than making it easy for a human to work out what files are related to there is no purpose... Everything could just be in the root of c for all the computer cares

Interesting, that popped up some ideas.

edscdk · 31 Dec 2011 at 09:41

PraxxtorCruel said:
Interesting, that popped up some ideas.

I believe I am right in saying files are not actually in any folders they are just associated with it.

I think a folder is just a entry in the file system database.

If you format a drive and do a data recovery you can get the files but the folder information is lost because the database was trashed and overwritten with an empty one

PraxxtorCruel · 31 Dec 2011 at 09:49

edscdk said:
I believe I am right in saying files are not actually in any folders they are just associated with it.

I think a folder is just a entry in the file system database.

If you format a drive and do a data recovery you can get the files but the folder information is lost because the database was trashed and overwritten with an empty one

I like it. By the way have you tried googling the original question, don't you find it difficult to find anything worthwhile or is it just me?

OCdude · 31 Dec 2011 at 10:35

As previously stated, the whole concept of folders are really just for us mere humans to organise and "understand" the structure of things (FYI: Folders are actually just a file!)

I guess a good way of looking at it, is to look at how file systems work, and keep track of files etc, then compare that to what you see on the screen!

The Wikipedia article on FAT might be a good place to start.

ecksmen · 31 Dec 2011 at 13:06

Folders are important, they are not just for "humans". Think in terms of permissions (files inheriting permissions from parent folders. Folder depth limitations dependant on core file system. Performance of locating files within folders, ability to have duplicate names of files.

I doubt any computer system could function effectively without some logical structuring such as folders.