Get external maxfiles fileproperties (Version No.)

For an open file:

s = fileProperties.getItems "General"
s = s[s.count-3]

Returns:

#("3ds Max Version: 17.00", "Uncompressed", "Build: 17.3.374.0", "Saved As Version: 17.00")
"3ds Max Version: 17.00"

But I've tried for an external file this:

file = @"C:\Users\test file.max"
for i in file do (
f = fileProperties.getItems[i] "General"
f = f[f.count-3]
)

I don't think that this is possible looking at the help here (http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/15/ENU/MAXScript-Help/index.html?url=fil…) but maybe I'm looking at the wrong solution. Maybe metadata is a better way?