[BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Discussion related to "Everything" 1.5 Alpha.
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JTB3
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:15 pm

[BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by JTB3 »

This violates default Windows behavior. Windows does not normally allow a user to create, rename, or open a folder with a period at the end of it. Still, Everything does allow for it - causing an accessibility error if opened. NTFS can support this, but the Windows shell and user interfaces do not support such names.

This error is easy to reproduce: Try to create or rename any Windows folder with a period at the end of it on the desktop or using File Explorer - you can't do it! Now try to rename a folder found in the results pane of Everything and add a period to the end of it, it allows for it! - but now the folder cannot be accessed with Windows Explorer!

Hopefully an easy fix, David...
-JT ☘️
NotNull
Posts: 5517
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 9:22 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by NotNull »

Why do you consider this to be a bug in Everything instead of being a bug in Windows Explorer?


The NTFS filesystem does support foldenames ending with a dot.
Windows itself supports multipe filesystem namespaces, among which Win32 namespace (syntax like \\?\C:\Windows) and posix (for unix/linux compatibility).
Both can create foldernames ending in a dot.


The following CMD commands create "dot folders"
(cygwin makes use of the posix namespace)

Code: Select all

md "\\?\T:\Folder ends with a dot."
c:\Tools\cygwin64\bin\mkdir.exe "Another dot folder."
JTB3
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:15 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by JTB3 »

NotNull wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 4:08 am Why do you consider this to be a bug in Everything instead of being a bug in Windows Explorer?
Because without warning, Everything can create 'unusable' file folders that produce Windows shell errors (and also errors within Everything). At a minimum, IMHO, there should be a flag/setting that prevents this behavior (on by default) so users don't get faked out (advanced users could switch it off). It seems logical that Everything (by default) should perform consistently with and respect File Explorer/Shell naming conventions.
therube
Posts: 5056
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by therube »

I can see something here.
Given that there is difference in behavior between a directory name & a file name, one allowing the period & one not.

If not for that discrepancy...
harryray2
Posts: 1104
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:56 am

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by harryray2 »

I quite like the fact that Everything can pick up on things like this.
Which made me wonder as to how one would search for this? I tried endwith:. but that didn't work.
therube
Posts: 5056
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by therube »

It should be finding it.

(And not that I'm sure what endwith: does particularly, cause it will also find something like: "/IRC.$/" - unless its' only dealing with, what are they calling it, "basename". :scratcheshead: I've just confused myself.)


Anyhow, to me, this is more "correct",
regex:^.*\.$
.
harryray2
Posts: 1104
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:56 am

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by harryray2 »

Not really sure what that regex does, but it doesn't find any folder ending with .
therube
Posts: 5056
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by therube »

(Actually, the above [regex] would find a file or folder ending with a (.).)


Are you sure you actually created a directory name that ends with a (.)?

Code: Select all

test.
ddd.
dir_dot.
In this case, "test." is a file, & the d's are directories.
harryray2
Posts: 1104
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:56 am

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by harryray2 »

It's showing in everything but definitely not finding it with a search. Although, if I do a search for test, everything finds it, but not if I search for test.
JTB3
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:15 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by JTB3 »

David,
Have you seen this thread? Any comments❔
-JT
void
Developer
Posts: 17153
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by void »

rename_trim will fix this issue in the next alpha update.

Thanks for the issue report.

I will have an update soon.

I found it interesting that Windows Explorer doesn't handle multiple . and spaces:

Code: Select all

test . . . . .
JTB3
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:15 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by JTB3 »

void wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 9:01 am rename_trim fill fix this issue in the next alpha update.
Thanks for the issue report. I will have an update soon.
I found it interesting that Windows Explorer doesn't handle multiple . and spaces:
Thanks, and 'yes' 👌
void
Developer
Posts: 17153
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by void »

Everything 1.5.0.1384a will now trim all trailing spaces ( ) and dots (.) in filenames when renaming.

The folder sidebar will now also trim filenames when renaming.



To disable filename trimming (not recommended):
  • In Everything 1.5, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the Advanced tab on the left.
  • To the right of Show settings containing, search for:
    trim
  • Select: rename_trim
  • Set the value to: false
  • Click OK.
-or-

Select the file in Everything and press Shift + F2.
The advanced renamer does not trim filenames.

Filenames with trailing spaces ( ) and dots (.) can make them inaccessible in Windows Explorer.
Files with trailing spaces and dots can always be renamed in Everything.
JTB3
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:15 pm

Re: [BUG] File folder(s) renamed to ending with a period (.) with Everything are not accessible.

Post by JTB3 »

void wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2024 5:47 am Everything 1.5.0.1384a will now trim all trailing spaces ( ) and dots (.) in filenames when renaming.
The folder sidebar will now also trim filenames when renaming.

To disable filename trimming (not recommended): ... -or- Select the file in Everything and press Shift + F2.
The advanced renamer does not trim filenames.

Filenames with trailing spaces ( ) and dots (.) can make them inaccessible in Windows Explorer.
Files with trailing spaces and dots can always be renamed in Everything.
Great solution, David. Thx! -JT ☘️
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