MP 1.6.3: Description/ Annotation special unicode character bug

[Devil505]

Subject: MP 1.6.3: Description/ Annotation special unicode character bug

XnView: MP 1.6.3 - 64 bit
OS: Windows - 64bit

When filename contains special (non-ASCII) characters, the corresponding Descript.ion entry can't be accessed/ doesn't show

Effect: doesn't show description/ Annotation for files with special characters


To reproduce:
1. use XNview CLASSIC to set a Descrition/ Annotation for a file with special characters in the filename
2. save the Descrition/ Annotation to the DESCRIPT.ION file located in the directory (you can check the entry in DESCRIPT.ION using a regular text editor)
3. access the directory with XNview MP
4. list files with detail view and select Descriptions to be shown
Actual behaviour (bug): Shows files with special characters in filename without descriptions (i.e. empty description field)

Expected behaviour: Should show description

Additional info:

The bug seems to be fairly old in XNview MP while as far as I can remember never has been an issue in XNview Classic.

Trying to edit the Description info of such a file in XNview MP doesn't seem to have a lasting effect: IIRC it sticks as long as you're still showing the same directory, but changing directories and then changing back shows empty descriptions again.

Special Characters here doesn't mean all non-ASCII characters but seemingly most of special unicode characters like asian characters or "/" or accented chars

At a guess XNview MP's algorithm retrieving the description entries from DESCRIPT.ION doesn't map/ match unicode filenames correctly, while XNview CLASSIC and other programs supporting DESCRIPT.ION files do - I'm not sure if dscriptions/ annotations are saved in the XNview MP database but the fact that even after editing the file description using XNview MP doesn't "stick" indicates that either they are not saved there or the matching of file and entry doesn't work there either

[xnview]

the problem is unicode filename. Classic doesn't support it. So MP can't get description for this filename