File Browser Widget with ZIP files

[homam]

Hello,

I have a tool where the user is requested to browse for a ZIP file. The file browser widget in XSI is treating zip files as folders preventing the user from picking the actual zip file.

This is a sample code (JScript) for testing this behavior:

Code: Select all

var oCustomProperty = ActiveSceneRoot.AddProperty( "CustomProperty", false, "PSet" );
var file = oCustomProperty.AddParameter2( "path", siString);
var oLayout = oCustomProperty.PPGLayout;
var oItem = oLayout.AddItem( "path","path", siControlFilePath);
oItem.SetAttribute(siUIFileFilter, "ZIP files (*.zip)|*.zip|");
oItem.SetAttribute(siUIOpenFile, true);
oItem.SetAttribute(siUIFileMustExist, true);

Is there any special attribute that can override this behavior?

Thanks,
Homam

[EricTRocks]

Unfortunately this looks like a bug / limitation. I've submitted it as a bug.

[Letterbox]

You might want to Un-submit it.

Realize that Windows 7 has changed it now looks at ZIP files like normal folders viz that's exactly why they can be show in Windows Explorer with out additional applications. See it, Windows explorer the left pane, select a zip file (note the triangle) and how you can expand it, on the right pane see the contents of the zip.

Change your compression and script to rar/7-Zip types.

Unless you particularly want zip, but then you'd have to go delving into registry data to disable windows using zip compression and it's integration (good luck with that), you'd also have to do that on every single machine that script ever ran on.

[EricTRocks]

I'm going to keep it logged because you don't always hav the option to just change your compression format. it is an actual file so it should be able to be done

[homam]

Unfortunately in my case it is not possible to use other formats, it is part of the game engine pipeline. As a work around I'll try using an external browser component instead of the native XSI one.

[Letterbox]

Maybe your both still not 'getting' this. It goes like this.... Windows intercepts it first. Like it was your postal mail, if it sees a zip envelope (like air mail) it (windows) opens it first (like customs), then sends it's on. That intercept is at an OS level (government), apps (you) get it after the OS (government) does it's thing. Sending in a report is like asking the (air mail) sender not to have customs(windows) open it, they have no control, they just use the service (windows api).

But since we're smarter than the machines (i hope), we rename the file to 'zis' (a plain envelope, customs unaware), so windows (customs) doesn't intercept. After all, its just a file name (an envelope), the message (written contents) remains the same.

[EricTRocks]

No I get it. I am not a simpleton. I do think that Windows and Softimage being rather sophisticated pieces of software, should be able to be manipulated and programmed to compensate for this. If Python or jscript can recognize the path as pointing to a file through the script editor I'm confident something within the internals of the software can be adjusted to do the same. If not I would rather have a dev look into it rather than not even bother trying.

[luceric]

I think it's pretty broken and fixable

[EricTRocks]

Just to throw more justification onto the pile, I can attach .zip files using a file browser in Chrome on Windows 7 so it has to be possible.

[Letterbox]

So you have the 3 options given, or sit and wait it out for a resolution as yet unknown. The route you prefer you choose, but at least I hope I've given you some possibilities that will work, now.

Best of luck.

[luceric]

the problem is that it doesn't work correctly. working correctly means you should be able to pick the .zip file, or pick a file in the zip file. but neither work. whether these types of virtual folder is enabled or not a flag on the API Softimage calls to get the content of a folder.

[homam]

I just implemented the workaround I suggested for using Windows dialog instead of XSI's one. It is working perfect except it looks a little bit ugly with the hybrid Soft/Windows UI.

zipPick.jpg

Thanks everyone for your help and ideas

[csaez]

Use this and you should be safe

Code: Select all

Application.Desktop.SuspendWin32ControlsHook()
#--
#-- your dialog stuff
#--
Application.Desktop.RestoreWin32ControlsHook()

[homam]

It looks much better now. Thanks

Wondering why this method is not listed under the desktop object in the SDK docs?
http://download.autodesk.com/global/docs/softimage2013/en_us/sdkguide/index.html