App with "Virtual" folders

[Xon]

Hi to all,

I am developing an app(currently in C#.Net), At the moment I am stuck on implementing the requirement described below:

The app enables the user to add multiple files and "bundle"/compress them into a single file (much like rar or zip files),
when the single file has been generated I would like for the user to browse it's contents like it is an ordinary folder (using Windows Explorer etc.),
some winrar versions enable you to do this if I am not mistaken.

Ultimately I would like to assign a drive letter to this "virtual" folder(making it act as a virtual drive).

As an example the user would select multiple files and bundle them, a single file is then created compressed or formatted as required by the user. A virtual drive will then be created and the user can access the bundled file's contents through this virtual drive.

At the moment I have no idea on how to implement this feature, thus any advice on this issue is welcome and greatly appreciated, also please let me know if my description of this feature needs further elaboration.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

[3p1c]

Dropbox.com or skydrive does just that already
skydrive.live.com

 

[stevenv]

You can map a drive to a folder in Windows but never heard of mapping one to an archive.

 

[nic777]

How about saving the file like an ISO i.e. image format of a disk?

Its one file and you can then map it to a drive - have seen it be done on Windows and Linux.

 

[Elimentals]

VMware does this by giving you a tool that allows you to mount the .vmdk files
See http://www.vmware.com/download/eula/diskmount_ws_v55.html

You use it as command line ie: c:\vmware-mount k: "c:\someplace\vmwarehd.vmdk". This allows you to mount and use VMware created drives as a normal HD on your PC.

If you want to do it as a training exercise for yourself go look for Open source ISO tools like http://sourceforge.net/projects/wincdemu/ it will give you a basis on where to start looking.