if you ever change ... call me

November 8, 2007 4:20 PM

windowsprogramming filter - I want a program running under Windows to be notified whenever a particular file(s) is/are modified. Need some keywords to help my searches about this facility.

In the past I'm sure I've read of a mechanism which exists within Microsoft Windows which allows a program to register an interest in one or a set of files within the file system and subsequently to be notified whenever they are modified. The terms involved (file / folders / modification) are all very common so Googling has failed me.

Could anyone provide me with the name of this mechanism (or anything else within Windows which would provide similar functionality).

Just a bit of background I want to make a copy of the file to another location whenever it's modified.

posted by southof40 to computers & internet (5 comments total)

FindFirstChangeNotification
posted by blenderfish at 4:30 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'd start here.
posted by flabdablet at 4:32 PM on November 8, 2007

Assuming your program is running, the .NET FileSystemWatcher component provides this functionality. I'm not sure if its possible to watch a file and, when it is modified, start a program that isn't already running. Otherwise, the FileSystemWatcher should do everything you want.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 4:32 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

the FileSystem class will probably also be helpful for you for generally toying with files/folders.
posted by Pants! at 6:36 PM on November 8, 2007

Thanks to all of you for your informative replies
posted by southof40 at 4:29 AM on November 9, 2007