The Pywin32 package wraps the interfaces used to read and write these properties. \win32com\test\testStorage.py demonstrates how to use them.
There are actually two different ways that metadata is stored. For structured storage files created by COM applications, it's embedded directly in the file data. This would change the file's hash if the document properties were changed. On volumes formatted with NTFS 5 (Win2k and later), document properties can be added to any type of file and are stored in alternate data streams. hth Roger "EP" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > I'm looking for a method by which to access Windows files metadata and > have not been able to find anything in the standard modules or via > Google - what is the standard approach? > > Shamefully I really do not understand Windows file system - e.g. is > properties metadata attached to the file? if I change that metadata > do I change the file's hash? how is the metadata structured? or is > the "properties" metadata simply derived upon access? > > Either way, is there a module or method to access this metadata (I'd > hope there was a metadata dictionary for each file, but that may be a > sign I've been spoiled by Python) ? > > > EP > ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups ---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list