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file.exists() problem

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    file.exists() problem

    File.exists() does not seem to work properly in A5V4.03 build 230. In one of my scripts, I have two variables called current_path and bitmap_file. They contain the name of the current folder (including the drive letter and the final backslash) and a bitmap file which exists in the folder.

    My script includes the following statement:

    result = file.exists(current_path + bitmap_file)

    This evaluates correctly when the length of current_path is less than 29, but always returns .F. when the current path contains 29 or more characters.

    If I explicitly name the file e.g. result = file.exists("c:worka5v4clientsurcadministrationblank.bmp")

    the result evaluates correctly.

    Does anyone know why this happens?

    Thanks,
    Tony

    #2
    RE: file.exists() problem

    I think that using :A5.get_path()+"filename") would work better than current_path. I think that your problem is one of having the correct path.

    Nick

    Comment


      #3
      RE: file.exists() problem

      Tony, I wonder if this is a backslash issue? Does your variable include the trailing backslash (which is needed as a separator between the path and the filename)? It is possible you're putting it in when you use the explicit constant, and leaving it out by accident when you concatenate the variable and the filename.

      Backslashes are tricky, because they are the A5 line continuation character, so you might need to actually build the string like this:

      var->current_path + chr(92) + bitmapfilename

      -- tom

      Comment


        #4
        RE: file.exists() problem

        Tom & Nick

        Thanks for your replies. I use a5.get_path to get the value of current_path. My script includes backslashes in the right places - I have stepped through the script using the debugger and watched the values of the variables, and they are all OK.

        The script works perfectly when the total length of the path is up to 28 characters, but gives an incorrect FALSE result when the path is longer than 28 characters.

        Tony

        Comment


          #5
          RE: file.exists() problem

          Tony, using vers 4.03 (build 230) I cannot replicate the problem you are seeing.

          Here's what I see in the Interactive Editor:

          currpath = "C:A5v4AdvancedDataEntryEnhancedJimUrbanski"
          filename = "Mainmenu.dbf"
          resultstring = if(file.exists(currpath+filename),"Found it","Cannot see it")

          ?currpath
          = "C:A5v4AdvancedDataEntryEnhancedJimUrbanski"
          ?len(currpath)
          = 45.000000


          ?filename
          = "Mainmenu.dbf"
          ? len(filename)
          = 13.000000

          ? len(currpath+filename)
          = 58.000000


          ?resultstring
          = "Found it"


          In my setup the file MainMenu.dbf is actually present in the specified folder, and the function file.exists() found it.

          The length of the path to the file exceeds the 28 character limit you are seeing.

          Am I missing the point?

          -- tom

          Comment


            #6
            RE: file.exists() problem

            Darn. I forgot that this board eats the backslash characters, let me try again.

            Here's what I see in the interactive editor, with pipes substituted for the backlashes I actually used:

            currpath = "C:|A5v4|AdvancedDataEntry|EnhancedJimUrbanski"
            filename = "|Mainmenu.dbf"
            resultstring = if(file.exists(currpath+filename),"Found it","Cannot see it")

            ?currpath
            = "C:|A5v4|AdvancedDataEntry|EnhancedJimUrbanski"
            ?len(currpath)
            = 45.000000


            ?filename
            = "|Mainmenu.dbf"
            ? len(filename)
            = 13.000000

            ? len(currpath+filename)
            = 58.000000


            ?resultstring
            = "Found it"

            Comment


              #7
              RE: file.exists() problem

              Tom,

              It works OK for me in the interactive window or in a script when the file is named explicitly in the file.exists statement, e.g. result = file.exists("c:/aaaaaaaa/bbbbbbbb/cccccccc/filename.dbf")

              It always gives result = .F. when the script holds the path/file name in variables and the path is >28 characters. This applies both in a script and in the interactive window, e.g.

              bs = chr(92)
              current_path = :a5.get_path() + bs
              filename = "filename.dbf"
              result = file.exists(current_path + filename)

              Comment


                #8
                RE: file.exists() problem

                Tony, that's odd.

                As you can see from my example, I used variables in the interactive window to hold the path and filename. The length of the path variable is greater than 28.

                Can you post a working example that illustrates the problem?

                -- tom

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: file.exists() problem

                  Tony, maybe there's something goofy in your script?

                  Here's an example that seems to work just fine with long path and filename strings.

                  Unzip the attachment to a separate folder.
                  Do not mix it with your development work.

                  Begin with form "Names1"

                  -- tom

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: file.exists() problem

                    Tom,

                    Thanks, I will look at it later today

                    Tony

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: file.exists() problem

                      Tom,

                      I have found the error in my script. The name of the file is stored in a field (field length = 255), so it has trailing spaces. The script works OK if I use:

                      result = file.exists(current_path + trim(bitmap_file))

                      The original script always worked OK when its application was in its original location, and only failed when I copied it to a new folder with a longer name.

                      I have experimented with the form you sent to me, and added the following lines to the "test file.exists" button's script:

                      num = val(ui_get_number("Enter number" , "number of spaces" ))
                      tfile = tfile + space(num)

                      The test gives a correct result when the total number of characters (path + file name + trailing spaces) is less than 260, but evaluates as .F. when the length is >= 260. I assume that this is related to Windows 98's path + file name limit of 255.

                      Thank you for all your help with this.

                      Tony

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: file.exists() problem

                        Tony,

                        Ahhh, the old trailing blank spaces bug-a-boo. I've been bitten by that rascal many, many times myself so I can sympathize. Glad you got it going.

                        -- tom

                        Comment

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