Manipulate Files While In Use In Linux/Mac

[mommalina]

From PC Mechanic Newsletter
27 Sep 2006

Tip of the Day
Manipulate Files While In Use In Linux/Mac

A really convenient feature of both Linux and Mac is the ability to move a file while it is in use. A perfect example of this is a downloaded MP3 or office document. You can open the file to preview it and then move, rename, or delete the file while it is still open.

Unfortunately, the ability to do this does not yet exist in Windows.

[Tortanick]

Never realised that, nice feature :)

Presuimibly this applies to all modern Unices then.

[qldit]

Good Morning Momma, that is very interesting, after giving it much thought I realise I actually knew this but had forgotten windows didn't allow it.
That is a real worry!
Now let me see, what followed C colon, it is forward slash or backslash! LOL!
Cheers qldit.

[Tortanick]

How do they do this?

I know that in UNIX all "files" are links to a physical section of the hard disk, do programs simply know they are working on this part of the hard disk and thus don't mind if the link changes?

[Pi rules]

My guess is that it is stored in memory while accessed, so there is no need for the physical file on the hard drive, and it changes the addresses in memory in case it needs to access the file again, but that's just my guess.

[Tortanick]

Sounds about right, but wouldn't it be the same for windows?

[Pi rules]

It probably could be, but their programmers would have to allow it.