It's gonna be cool... basically linking in your search features and stuff -
finding stuff faster, organised... but there isn't much info on WinFS yet.
Microsoft shipped Beta 1 a little while ago... but it's still meant to be
cool :o)

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Zack Whittaker
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--: Original message follows :--
> All I know about WinFS right now (other than the fact that it's not ready
> for primetime) is that it's some sort of SQL tie-in to the filesystem
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> filesystem? SQL Server access to the filesystem? Or is it something else
> entirely?
WinFS is not a file system, a data store that will run on top of the NTFS
file system.
It simplifies the process of finding and storing important user data. In
addition to streamlined API's (Application Programming Interface) for
accessing relational data. "WinFS" introduces a new centralized storage
subsystem and API for storing and searching documents and contacts.
Adapted from Developer's Guide to Interoperability and Migration in
"Longhorn" version 1.0, emerging practices/guidance for early
implementers/patterns and practices.
So one should note that WinFS is really a powerful extension being added to
the file system in Longhorn, basically a stack that will be able to make
information more searchable and accessible throughout aspects of the Windows
user interface.
WinFS is difficult mainly because it is tied to every aspect of Windows,
meaning every program will be an assistant to it. This also means Microsoft
will need third party developers to have hooks into the technology itself to
make Search aware also to programs being built for Windows.

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Andre
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> All I know about WinFS right now (other than the fact that it's not ready
> for primetime) is that it's some sort of SQL tie-in to the filesystem
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> filesystem? SQL Server access to the filesystem? Or is it something else
> entirely?
Andre Da Costa [Extended64] - 05 May 2006 07:42 GMT
Correction:
"WinFS is not a file system, a data store that will run on top of the NTFS
file system."
------------------------------
WinFS is not a file system, "it is" a data store that will run on top of the
NTFS
file system.

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Andre
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> WinFS is not a file system, a data store that will run on top of the NTFS
> file system.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>> the filesystem? SQL Server access to the filesystem? Or is it something
>> else entirely?
Zack Whittaker - 05 May 2006 08:58 GMT
Check here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/data/WinFS/default.aspx
Under the heading "Building WinFS Solutions"....
... it *is* a file system.

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Zack Whittaker
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rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not
of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared
that up!
--: Original message follows :--
> Correction:
> "WinFS is not a file system, a data store that will run on top of the NTFS
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>>> SQL queries of the filesystem? SQL Server access to the filesystem? Or
>>> is it something else entirely?
Andre Da Costa [Extended64] - 05 May 2006 15:30 GMT
hmm, its a bit contradictory to be honest. Because a File System is a method
of storing and organizing data to make it easy to find and access them. But
WinFS is so much more than that.
That paragraph even contradicts itself:
"WinFS bridges the gap between file systems and databases"
If it bridges the gap between "traditional" file systems and databases, then
that means its something more than both. Unless its saying its better than
its ownself. :-s

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Andre
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> Check here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/data/WinFS/default.aspx
> Under the heading "Building WinFS Solutions"....
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
>>>> More complex SQL queries of the filesystem? SQL Server access to the
>>>> filesystem? Or is it something else entirely?
triangle - 18 May 2006 13:25 GMT
WinFS is a great structure indeed. I've searched to get more on it and
found source with much useful data on it http://www.ntfs.com/ You might
wish to give it a glance if you are interested.

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triangle
www.techarena.in
Great, thanks guys.
> All I know about WinFS right now (other than the fact that it's not ready
> for primetime) is that it's some sort of SQL tie-in to the filesystem
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> filesystem? SQL Server access to the filesystem? Or is it something else
> entirely?