An IsolatedStorageFile is always persisted to a dedicated location by .NET isolated storage API. Each file, when it is first created, will be granted access at least to the current logged-on user plus other requirements. In other words, an IsolatedStorageFile is created based on isolated requirements called IsolatedStorageScope, for example,
- User + Assembly
- User + Assembly + Domain
- Roaming + User + Assembly
- Roaming + User + Assembly + Domain
- ...
- Machine + Assembly +
- Machine + Assembly + Domain
- ...
Note that you cannot initialize a storage with
IsolatedStorageScope.
User and
IsolatedStorageScope.
Machine together because
IsolatedStorageScope.
Machine represents
All Users which include the current user. But either one of them must be present in the
IsolatedStorageScope with others. In addition, you cannot use
IsolatedStorageScope.
Application if the application is not configured or running as a ClickOnce application, which implies you can only use either
IsolatedStorageFile.GetUserStoreForApplication() or
IsolatedStorageFile.GetMachineStoreForApplication() for store initialization only when the application is NOT a ClickOnce application.
The exact location to represent the isolated storage "file system" varies from operating systems.
For user scope (IsolatedStorageScope.User) related, the isolated storage is located at
XP: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\IsolatedStorage\
Vista: %USERPROFILE%\App Data\Local\IsolatedStorage\
For machine or all users scope (
IsolatedStorageScope.
Machine) related, the isolated storage is located at
XP: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\IsolatedStorage\
Vista: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\App Data\Local\IsolatedStorage\
All storage entry points (folders) will be placed under the above location(s). Each of entry point or folder represents a
store assigned or automatically created by .NET when an
IsolatedStorageFile is first created. Then you can create folders or sub-folders relative to that
store location. After that, you can even create another
IsolatedStorageFiles under those sub-folders.