Weird file-path in runways.xml

[pellelil]

Hi Pete,

I just noticed that the file-tags in runways.xml begins with "\\?". I only use this tag to display where the scanned data comes from (which scenery) so its no a big deal, I just wandered where it came from?

<File>\\?\G:\FS\2020Packages\Official\OneStore\fs-base\scenery\0001\APX07100.bgl</File>

Pelle

[Pete Dowson]

3 minutes ago, pellelil said:

I just noticed that the file-tags in runways.xml begins with "\\?". I only use this tag to display where the scanned data comes from (which scenery) so its no a big deal, I just wandered where it came from?

I put that in for MSFS to allow/enforce Windows to accept pathnames greater than 256 (MAX_PATH), since using the default install paths, especially for the Store version of MSFS, easily generates what would otherwise be overlong paths.

See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/maximum-file-path-limitation?tabs=cmd

"To specify an extended-length path, use the "\\?\" prefix. For example, "\\?\D:\very long path"."

Pete

[pellelil]

Thanks for the explanation Pete, never come across these before, but now I know.