Filename capitalization

[Vlad]

Hey guys, I was just wondering because I see that filenames and folders have varying character types, for example "ICONS" folder and inside you got names like "Ability_Ambush.blp" but what I've found out for myself is that I can put a icon named "ability_ambush.blp" and it will still work and load.

My question is why do some try and keep the filename capitalization proper while others like me just name them all lower case, does it mater? I use Windows so maybe it's not a problem, but would it not work on Mac or Linux?

[Rilgamon]

Originally Posted by Vladinator I use Windows so maybe it's not a problem

Using Windows is always a problem

Originally Posted by Vladinator but would it not work on Mac or Linux?

this ... traditionally linux filesystems offer this cool feature and I consider it superior to the way windows handles it ... but billions of ppl would argue

[Seerah]

Windows isn't so picky about what case you use for your files. Linux (and Mac, if I'm not mistaken) are case-sensitive.

[Saiket]

I'm fairly certain that paths in WoW's MPQ archives are case insensitive no matter which platform you use. Only paths that lead to normal files in your filesystem are subject to OS case sensitivity. Your example of ability icons can have any case, but a path to a custom image included in a mod would have to match exactly to work on all platforms.

[Torhal]

Macs can be configured to have a case-sensitive filesystem, but at that point WoW won't run.

[Crissa]

Strangely, WoW used to not check or care if you had a case-sensitive filesystem on a Mac, which led a few users to end up having to reformat their drive. Luckily, you can do that without losing everything on a Mac.

WoW refuses to run, even if it's on a non-specific partition, because it checks where the OS is running from. Not a great choice, if you ask me, because a friend of mine had to reformat.

I'm not sure why you'd want case-sensitivity, but it probably has its uses. And everything should be set right so that it shouldn't care if it's on a case-sensitive drive or not - that they don't shows a weakness in the game client.

I hate how some of the LUA code is case sensitive and some isn't, personally.

-Crissa

[Vlad]

I see, I guess I better preserve the filename and extension to avoid problems when I submit addons here. Just a bit silly since you aren't allowed having a file named the same anyway, so why would the capitalization matter for some OS? :/ Unless you CAN on those have files named the same as long the chars are different capitals, but that makes things kind of complicated imo. :P

[Rilgamon]

Linux filesystems offer this

So there can be files like

index.htm
Index.htm
inDex.htm
index.htM

Like I said, I like it but billions of ppl would not

[Vlad]

Got nothing against it, just good to know when making addons to work cross platforms. :P