File Server

Symbian platform manages the basic permanent storage of data through file systems. Drives and file systems are common resources used by many programs, and access to them is managed by the File Server. The File Server is flexible, and can use many different file system formats and physical storage media. Applications and services access files, directories, and drives through the File Server client side API.

The different storage media on a phone can use different types of file system to organise files. Symbian platform provides a number of types of file system. You can implement a new file system in a type of DLL called a file system plug-in. You can also implement DLLs called a file server extensions to change the behaviour of a file system. You can implement a DLL called a file server plug-in to extend the behaviour of the File Server itself.

The File Server is started by the Base Starter component. The configuration of the File Server, such as which file systems are loaded to which drives, is done in the Base Starter configuration file.

• File services in Symbian platform
  This topic describes the common concepts of file systems and files used by Symbian platform.
• File Server Client Side
  
• File Server Plug-ins
  The File Server Plug-in Framework provides a way for developers to extend the functionality of the Symbian platform File Server. Developers can produce plug-ins that intercept file and directory IO. The interception and processing of requests by plug-ins is transparent to the application making the request.
• Loader
  This section gives an overview of the loader and the concept of versions. The section describes the rules that the loader uses to select the correct version of an EXE or DLL.
• File Server Example Code
  Describes the example code for the File Server component.