| |
Archive |
This flag indicates that the item is signaled as an archive.
This flag does not mean that the file or folder is an archive, but merely signals that it should be considered for backup or removal by archiving software and users. |
Compressed |
The file or directory that is compressed by the operating system on the storage device. For files,
this flag means that the file stored is compressed. If it is copied to another storage device, it may be transferred as an uncompressed file. However, files compressed
with Act On File file are always compressed. For folders, this flag means that any newly added files to that folder will be compressed. This type compression is only
possible if both the operating system and the file system support this feature. |
Device |
This flag is reserved for system use. |
Directory |
This indicates that the item is directory. |
Encrypted |
The file or directory that is encrypted by the operating system on the storage device. For files, this flag means that
the file is stored encrypted. If it is copied to another storage device it will be transferred in a normal (non-encrypted) form. Effectively, the file is secure when the owner of the file
is not logged on. For example, if another user copies an encrypted file to a flash drive while the owner of the file is logged in, they will have the decrypted data stored on the flash drive.
However, files encrypted with Act On File are always encrypted. For folders, this flag means that any newly added files to that folder will be encrypted. This type of encryption is only
possible if both the operating system and the file system support this feature.
|
Hidden |
The file or folder (and its content) are not listed (e.g. not displayed in Windows Explorer) unless the directory listing command requires listing of hidden files too. |
Normal |
Only for files, mutually exclusive with any other flag and is valid only when used singularly. |
Not Content Indexed |
The file or folder is ignored by the indexing services. |
Offline |
The file content is present on an offline storage device. |
Read Only |
When this flag is set, the system will not permit any changes to be made to the file. Applies to files only. |
Reparse Point |
Either a symbolic link, or a file or folder with an associated reparse point. |
Sparse File |
This flag indicates that the file is a sparse file. A sparse file is a file in which some parts are not recorded as data, but as metadata.
For example, normally files are like bitmap images where the data for every pixel is stored. A sparse file is like a vector image in which one stores the vectors (i.e. equations that result in the image when
drawn) - metadata.
|
System |
A file or folder part of, or exclusively used by, the operating system. |
Temporary |
A file that is meant to exist only while the process that created it exists, or for a limited time. There is a difference in how the
operating system handles files declared as temporary which may lead to performance degrade or upgrade depending on the circumstances when using a file flagged as temporary.
|
Virtual |
This flag is reserved for system use. |
Creation Time |
The time at which the file or folder was created. |
Last Access Time |
The time at which the file or folder was last accessed. |
Last Write Time |
The time at which the file was last modified. For folders, it is the time at which a file contained in the folder was last modified. |