AppData\Local\Ghisler gets created, settings elsewhere

volketi · Post by *volketi » 2012-05-24, 23:02 UTC

Hello,
I started using TC v8.0 x64.
Plugin use I trimmed down to Fileinfo due to compatibility issues, and might have even skipped that as it crashes checking out certain types of files... I read it is a known Fileinfo feature so far. Next.
My settings I chose to install in the User directory, being <user>AppData\Roaming\Ghisler, where settings & plugins are installed.
OK.
Since using v8.0 I am noticing <User>AppData\Local\Ghisler gets created by external calls apparently. It remains empty. Hidden and system files are supposed to visible. x64.
Odd.
I remove the directory upon notice. using Shift+Delete.
The directory remains there.
Odd.
I Shift+Delete again the directory. Done.
I have to do this quite often apparently.
Nothing in my TC'ini refers to the \AppData\Local. Using TC for years (non x64 version) this did not happen. So now using the x64 this annoyance. And the fact it 'looks' empty but has to be Shift+Deleted twice.

I did some search in the forums but nothing found at first|second.
??

volketi · Post by *volketi » 2012-05-24, 23:10 UTC

Also,

I looked with Windows Explorer in the 'empty' directory. Also 'empty', hidden and system files supposed to be visible.
2x Sh+Del, and again and again.
Admin elevated or not: no difference.
Using solely TC and the 1 plugin the directory does not get created. It happens upon 'certain' external events apparently. Which makes it rather malicious.
I especially did an uninstall of 7.57a before installing TC v8.0 x64. Now this

Perhaps some code somewhere is saying 'hey settings should be stored there'... I don't know, just guessing/trying to figure out the 'why oh why'. TC upon installation choosing the user's appdata goes to \roaming.

AV used/in use: Microsoft's, it's their OS.

theosdikaios · Post by *theosdikaios » 2012-05-25, 05:59 UTC

AFAIR %$LOCAL_APPDATA% is used for caching purposes i.e. thumbnail database and so on...

volketi · Post by *volketi » 2012-05-25, 07:32 UTC

-I don't use the TC thumbnail database, besides that would make some file one can see
-in Windows terms it's %LocalAppData%, %AppData% is the user's \roaming dir, see the command 'set' (basic set)
-this did not happen using any previous final release, of course this being the first x64 release glitches may appear and become apparent
-still doing that Sh+Del twice or once on the 'empty' dir on occasion

karlchen · Post by *karlchen » 2012-05-25, 10:19 UTC

Hello, volketi.

The folder "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Ghisler" exists here, too. And there are 2 .db thumbnail cache files in it, created by Total Commander 32-bit.
I cannot tell you whether they have initially been created by T.C. 7.5x 32-bit or by T.C. 8.0 32-bit. Yet, I can assure you with absolute certainty that the folder and the files have been created by a 32-bit Total Commander version.
Creating and using this folder is nothing which is done by the 64-bit edition only.
So this is part of the expected behaviour and not a bug.

Whether or not "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Ghisler" will hold any files seems to depend on the following settings:
Configuration => Options => Thumbnails.

--
[Added]
Have just removed the files under "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Ghisler" and closed T.C. 8.0.
Have launched T.C. 7.57a next and view thumbnails in a folder.
Voilà, the files are back.
Same behaviour can be seen using T.c. 7.56a.
So it is nothing specific to T.C. 8.0.
And it behaves as designed by the programme author.
[/Added]

Conclusion:
theosdikaios is right. What you reported is normal behaviour, no bug involved.

Kind regards,
Karl

umbra · Post by *umbra » 2012-05-25, 10:38 UTC

2volketi
What is you point? %LOCALAPPDATA% exists so applications can store any computer specific data (like cache) in there. Why do you think it's bad, that TC uses that folder? Also, it's not a new behavior, TC 7.56 creates that folder the moment you open Configuration->Options->Thumbnails (if they are enabled). And as for the inability to delete that folder - no such problems here.

volketi · Post by *volketi » 2012-05-25, 13:11 UTC

I am using TC for like a decade so far, thinking about it, like one and a half.

2Umbra & 2karlchen: About the thumbnails: I do not use the TC thumbnails database. When previously using TC v7.57a there was never a Ghisler folder in %LocalAppData%, I haven't used that option in years. And in years I never had a Ghisler folder in %LocalAppData%.
The Configuration is the same as I have been using with earlier version, where like I said, never was a %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder, only the &AppData%\Ghisler.
My Configuration->Thumbnails->Database Location is empty and only the 'Show custom fields below thumbnails' option is used, an option which never created the extra \Ghisler folder. So concerning the Non-usage of thumbnails the folder should not be created.

Other than that: like I said, using TC and only TC functioning does not create the folder. I have been fiddling and it does not get created.
Again, the folder gets created when performing certain action in/related to other programs. That behaviour never occured before.

E.g. of just now.
There is no %LocalAppData%\Ghisler present. OK. And has not been created using TC, TC functioning and running a couple of games from TC, to see some difference.
OK, no folder created. Might perhaps happen running some other games I am sure.
I start the Internet browser, outside TC, and save a file.
I edit that file, by opening it using TC, and save it.
No %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder created.
I Sh+Del that file.
The %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder gets created, 'empty', time of folder creation related to the removal of the file.
Sh+Del once this time for the obscure folder.

It is an example like I am encountering various. And there is correlation.

Like I said: That behaviour never occured before, v7.57a and below.

Also, using Win7x64U (legit what'd ya reckon).

Horst.Epp · Post by *Horst.Epp » 2012-05-25, 13:18 UTC

As it was already said:
%LOCALAPPDATA% exists so applications can store any computer specific data

If you don't like it or it hurts you, stop using TC
and don't waste our time with useless discussions.

volketi · Post by *volketi » 2012-05-25, 13:27 UTC

2Horst.Epp: I am aware of the usage of %LocalAppData%. Yet the Ghisler settings are in %AppData%.
Up to v7.57a a Ghisler folder in %LocalAppData% was never created when not using Thumbnails and still not using that option, thus why all of a sudden an always empty folder there??

That is not a useless question. If TC requires additional files, e.g. caches to be present there, no problem. But there is nothing visible.

If it is necessary for TC to have one there: no problem, though it never has when not using thumbnails.

Post by *white » 2012-05-25, 22:50 UTC

Problem confirmed using Windows XP and TC 8.0 32bit. Problem not present in TC 7.57a 32bit.

I disabled thumbnail caching (leave database location empty), restarted TC and renamed Local Settings\Application Data\GHISLER to Local Settings\Application Data\GHISLER2.

When using TC 7.57a the folder GHISLER is renamed to GHISLER2.
When using TC 8.0 the folder GHISLER is renamed to GHISLER2 and folder GHISLER is recreated.

umbra · Post by *umbra » 2012-05-26, 11:08 UTC

Not confirmed in Win7 nor in Win8. So if it really happens, it must be WinXP specific.
BTW, that directory is not just for thumbnails - if a drive root is unwritable, *.wc files for Directory Tree are stored there too (and who knows what else).

EDIT:
Ok, scratch that. I just reproduced it too using TC8 x32 and x64. Steps to reproduce it are very simple. If 'AppData\Local\GHISLER\' exists, when TC is started, the first attempt to rename/delete it will recreate it.
But my original opinions stays - is it really such a big issue?

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2012-05-27, 13:44 UTC

AFAIR %$LOCAL_APPDATA% is used for caching purposes i.e. thumbnail database and so on...

This is correct, it's used for things like the thumbnails. Not a bug.

Biozynotiker · Post by *Biozynotiker » 2012-05-29, 17:49 UTC

ghisler(Author) wrote:This is correct, it's used for things like the thumbnails. Not a bug.

Sure, but if the path is not defined in the config menu, caching is disabled.
But why TC8 creating a folder in %LOCAL_APPDATA%, when caching is disabled?
TC7.x behavior is the better one, imho (portable usage).

HolgerK · Post by *HolgerK » 2012-05-29, 19:56 UTC

volketi wrote:...
I edit that file, by opening it using TC, and save it.
No %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder created.
I Sh+Del that file.
The %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder gets created, 'empty', time of folder creation related to the removal of the file.
Sh+Del once this time for the obscure folder.

It is an example like I am encountering various. And there is correlation.

Like I said: That behaviour never occured before, v7.57a and below.

Not confirmed.
The %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder is always created here (also in TC7.57a or e.g 7.04, 6.56) but only for the first time you use Shift+Del during a TC-session.

It may be a behavior that could be done better, but it's not a new bug introduced with TC 8.

Regards
Holger

Post by *white » 2012-05-29, 22:04 UTC

HolgerK wrote:Not confirmed.
The %LocalAppData%\Ghisler folder is always created here (also in TC7.57a or e.g 7.04, 6.56) but only for the first time you use Shift+Del during a TC-session.

Did you disable thumbnail caching and restart TC? What exactly did you do causing the folder to be created? I can only reproduce creation of the folder using TC 8 beta 10 and later versions, not when using TC 8 beta 9 and earlier versions. (tested only 32 bit versions)

Edited: Changed "Did you disable thumbnails" into "Did you disable thumbnail caching"