Common Practice For Storing Application Data Files

Question

During my application development targeting for XP and Linux time, I will store my application data files (Files where user may create, modify, rename, delete...) same path as my application directory. For instance, if my application is installed in :-
C:\Program Files\MyApp\MyApp.jar
All my application data files will be located in
C:\Program Files\MyApp\Config\ directory.
This works quite well until Vista introduce UAC. Vista will not allow write opration to C:\Program Files\MyApp\Config\ folder (Config folder is being created during installer execution). However, to support legacy application, Vista use a workaround (Virtualization) for application to write. For example, MyApp.jar want to perform write on
Real path :-
C:\Program Files\MyApp\Config
Vista will redirect it to :-
Virtual path
C:\Users\<account>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\MyApp\Config
Please refer to the links for more detail
[http://www.codeproject.com/KB/security/acl_common_data.aspx?display=Print]
[http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista-security/MakingAppsUACAware.aspx]
However, this introduce several additional problems [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927387]
May I know what is the common practice for storing an application data files? The below are my several thoughts
(1) Writing to
* Windows XP - %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
* Windows Vista - %systemdrive%\ProgramData
* Windows 2000 - %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
* Windows Server 2003 - %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
* Windows 98 - %systemdrive%\Windows\All Users\ Application Data
which we may retrieve through "CommonApplicationData", using the API function SHGetFolderPath. However, how can we do that in Java? How to make compatible with Linux?
(2) Writing to user home directory through "user.home" properties. Create a folder .MyApp and write the application data on it.
Any input and suggestion are welcomed.
Thanks!
cheok

Answer 1

>
...I will store my application data files (Files where user may create, modify, rename, delete...) same path as my application directory. >See [Store Application Settings and Components|http://sdnshare.sun.com/view.jsp?id=2305] for code that will put the required parts in a suitable sub-dir of user.home.