Compatibility Files

Windows Vista introduced several new security-related concepts - the most well known of these is UAC. One of the features of the new security system is the ability for file operations in certain protected locations to be automatically redirected to a different, non-privileged location. This system kicks into action whenever an older program that hasn't been updated for UAC tries to create or write to files in locations like the Windows directory. The file-system silently diverts the application to a different location - this means the old application doesn't break, but security is not compromised by allowing non-privileged applications write permission in important system folders.

Files that have been written to disk as a result of this system are known as compatibility files. Opus gives you the ability to manage compatibility files in two ways:

• Whenever you are in a protect location that has a compatibility folder, the Compatibility Files button () will appear on the File Display Toolbar. Clicking this button will instantly move you to the compatibility folder for the current location. Click the button again to return to the original folder.
  
  
  For example, say you are in the C:\Windows directory. As this is a protected location, the Compatibility Files button may appear on the toolbar (if it doesn't appear it means there aren't any compatibility files for the current location).
  
  
  Clicking the button would take you to your personal VirtualStore folder for the Windows directory.
  
• You can turn on the Show compatibility files option on the Folder Options dialog's Options tab. If this option is on, any compatibility files for the current folder are automatically included in a merged view with the current folder. You can also set this option as a global default with the Display Compatibility Files where possible option on the Folders / Folder Display Preferences page.
  
  
  
  Files from the alternate location are displayed in a different color to regular files and folders - you can configure this color from the Display / Colors and Fonts Preferences page. For example, the screenshot above shows that the program Delegate has attempted to write a file to the C:\Program Files folder, and this was silently diverted to the compatibility store. If you add the Location column to the display it also indicates which files are compatibility files.