Validating the creation of and routing of messages to file objects

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure representing a file type validation table for enabling validation of the creation of a file object in response to a request for creation of the file object, the file type validation table being capable of enabling validation of the creation of the file object in a standardized manner that eliminates the need for third party driver developers to write validation code, data structure comprising:

• first data fields containing file object type identifiers representing valid file object types;
• second data fields containing data referencing create handlers associated with the file object type identifiers contained in the first data fields, the first data fields and second data fields being constructed such that an appropriate create handler is selected and accessed when the particular file object type of a requested file object specified in the request matches one of the file object type identifiers;
• a wildcard data field containing wildcard data that is invoked when the particular file object type of the requested file object does not match one of the file object type identifiers contained in the first data fields;
• and
• a default create handler field referencing a default create handler, the default create handler being selected and accessed when the wildcard data is invoked.

In a computer having an operating system, a method of validating the creation of file objects in a computer in a standardized manner so as to eliminate the need for third party driver developers to write validation code, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving, at a driver object associated with the operating system, a request to create a requested file object of a particular type, the request including data referencing a private data structure;
• accessing a file type validation table that includes file object type identifiers representing valid file object types, the file type validation table referencing create handlers associated with the file object type identifiers
• comparing the particular type of file object specified in the request with the file object type identifiers in the file type validation table and determining that the particular type matches a particular file object type identifier;
• accessing the create handler associated with the particular file object type identifier;
• using the data in the request, passing at least a portion of the private data structure to the accessed create handler;
• and
• creating the requested file object using the accessed create handler.