_MACOSX Folder

[tv_kid]

Hi guys

A client is using FMS on Windows (not sure of the OS but it is Server of some sort). I only use Windows XP for testing and have not come across the '_MACOSX' folder in the Databases list before.

What is this folder, why does it appear and why are all files closed? (screen grab attached). The error log says "Database ._WI_IF.fp7 could not be opened: not a FileMaker Pro database."

They also have an issue with a file not opening, but a compacted copy seems to work ok (I've told them not to use a recovered file!)

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

These folders show up on Windows, including on Windows XP Pro, when items are copied from obe OS to the other. The folder--in my experience--can be safely deleted at the OS level when the actual files are closed.

Steven

[Fenton]

Macs (which are now Unix) store various info, window options, etc. in little files which are normally invisible on Macs, but which show up on Windows. One thing you can do is use a utility to remove them before sending files to Windows clients. There are various free programs; the one I've been using is CleanArchiver, with the "zip" option. Leave it on your Dock, then just drop folders on it.

http://www.sopht.jp/cleanarchiver/

This is for zipping a folder before sending. It does not affect the original folder. There are others which can strip an existing folder of invisibles on an entire volume (such as a flash drive). But if you then open one of its folders in the Finder, the files will be recreated (as you are viewing a window).