Ending with . (dot)

[harryray2]

I accidentally renamed some files ending with a . (dot)

Windows hides these files.
I tried .$ but this doesn't seem to work as the hidden file doesn't seem to include the .(dot)

I suppose I can try finding by attributes but I'm wondering if there's any other way?

[froggie]

If Everything was running, look in the index journal under file rename.

[harryray2]

Thanks, I thought of that, but unfortunately I set my maximum size for by index journal quite low (I can't remember the reason), so it doesn't go back far enough.

[therube]

regex:.*\.$

Code: Select all

Directory of C:\TMP\BRU\ä,ö,ü,ß\ä,ö,ü,ß

04/21/2022  11:27 AM    <DIR>          .
04/21/2022  11:27 AM    <DIR>          ..
04/21/2022  11:27 AM               341 test
04/21/2022  11:27 AM               390 test.

[NotNull]

endwith:"."

should be able to find these files.
However, it is likely that while renaming, the trailing dot got removed by Windows, so this search will not show the files you are looking for.

(Quick test: create a file "dummy.txt" and rename it to "dummy." in File Explorer. The trailing dot will be removed, although there are exceptions)

[harryray2]

Yes, thanks, Windows removed the dot so I've tried it with attrib:h and used !. to find files without an extension.

[NotNull]

!.

Thank you for that! I always used "ext:", but this is less typing, so that is a win

[raccoon]

I am curious, what software and situations have you found to make files ending with a dot and no extension? (Besides renaming from within Everything?)

[harryray2]

@notnull Oh yes, anything to make less work

@ raccoon Nothing exciting...I was just using the . to make the file name slightly different from an existing file. I just keep forgetting that in Windows it hides the file.

[raccoon]

It does not hide the file in Windows 7. Can you point me to any reading materials on when/how Windows hides the file, so I can add it to this other thread? viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11174

[therube]

I'm not sure that he means "hiding", per se, rather it's conceivable that programs won't know how to deal with the . file.

Take my tests, above.
If I right-click "test." -> Edit with Vim, & add to the file (contents), "this is the test. file", & save the file, it turns out that Vim (incorrectly) edit the file "test", saved the changes there, & left the file "test." in its original state.

In Salamander (file manager), if I Ctrl+C "test." & attempt to paste it into a different directory:
Error: (123) The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect
- which is incorrect.

In Windows Explorer, if I Ctrl+C "test." & paste it into a different directory - that does "succeed".
But, what it pasted, while it is the correct file (i.e., "test."), it no longer includes the trailing (dot).
- which is incorrect.


As far as how you might end up with a "test." file..., How Should Everything Handle file with a final dot or period.

[harryray2]

Something I hadn't noticed before, that although a . at the end of a filename removes the file from view, it doesn't set the hidden attribute, which buggers up my idea of searching for files with the H attribute set.

I played around with it and found that if I added a . again to the file while it was hidden, the file couldn't be seen when the 'show hidden files' option was set, but could be seen again when 'show hidden files' was disabled.

Another peculiarity is that if I perform any sort of file operation in the same folder as the hidden file, the file reappears.

I haven't the foggiest idea why.
Of course, my brilliant solution to all of this is to remember not to put a . at the end of a file.

I'm using Win7.

[harryray2]

It does though, still leave me with the problem of finding which files I have added a . to.

[NotNull]

I haven't the foggiest idea why.

@therube is right: programs get confused by a trailing dot. [1]
In File Explorer, you can 'F5' to make the file magically reappear ...

I am curious, what software and situations have you found to make files ending with a dot and no extension? (Besides renaming from within Everything?)

- CMD: echo.> "\\?\c:\some folder\endwithdot."
- Cygwin : touch "c:\some folder\endwithdot."
- WSL
- Using a different OS



[1] CMD's ATTRIB thinks it is a symbolic link

Code: Select all

T:\>dir /a-d /b
withdot.

T:\>attrib
The target of the symbolic link T:\withdot. does not exist

T:\>

[harryray2]

Actually, I think my problem has resolved itself, as any mucking around with the directory makes the file re-appear.

[raccoon]

What makes the file "disappear" though? Sounds like you just need to refresh Windows Explorer, which I'm not entirely convinced is caused by the dot-ended file. But what makes the (pre-existing) file up and vanish? Or is it a brand new file that doesn't appear right away?

I would like some step by step procedure.