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annotate lispref/files.texi @ 10484:08e1b7f85e5e
(remote-shell-program): Reorder search path.
author | Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org> |
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date | Thu, 19 Jan 1995 22:24:43 +0000 |
parents | f40f688148d1 |
children | 0b86aef0c387 |
rev | line source |
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6555 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. | |
5 @setfilename ../info/files | |
6 @node Files, Backups and Auto-Saving, Documentation, Top | |
7 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
8 @chapter Files | |
9 | |
10 In Emacs, you can find, create, view, save, and otherwise work with | |
11 files and file directories. This chapter describes most of the | |
12 file-related functions of Emacs Lisp, but a few others are described in | |
13 @ref{Buffers}, and those related to backups and auto-saving are | |
14 described in @ref{Backups and Auto-Saving}. | |
15 | |
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16 Many of the file functions take one or more arguments that are file |
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17 names. A file name is actually a string. Most of these functions |
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18 expand file name arguments using @code{expand-file-name}, so that |
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19 @file{~} is handled correctly, as are relative file names (including |
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20 @samp{../}). These functions don't recognize environment variable |
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21 substitutions such as @samp{$HOME}. @xref{File Name Expansion}. |
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22 |
6555 | 23 @menu |
24 * Visiting Files:: Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing. | |
25 * Saving Buffers:: Writing changed buffers back into files. | |
26 * Reading from Files:: Reading files into buffers without visiting. | |
27 * Writing to Files:: Writing new files from parts of buffers. | |
28 * File Locks:: Locking and unlocking files, to prevent | |
29 simultaneous editing by two people. | |
30 * Information about Files:: Testing existence, accessibility, size of files. | |
31 * Changing File Attributes:: Renaming files, changing protection, etc. | |
32 * File Names:: Decomposing and expanding file names. | |
33 * Contents of Directories:: Getting a list of the files in a directory. | |
34 * Create/Delete Dirs:: Creating and Deleting Directories. | |
35 * Magic File Names:: Defining "magic" special handling | |
36 for certain file names. | |
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37 * Files and MS-DOS:: Distinguishing text and binary files on MS-DOS. |
6555 | 38 @end menu |
39 | |
40 @node Visiting Files | |
41 @section Visiting Files | |
42 @cindex finding files | |
43 @cindex visiting files | |
44 | |
45 Visiting a file means reading a file into a buffer. Once this is | |
46 done, we say that the buffer is @dfn{visiting} that file, and call the | |
47 file ``the visited file'' of the buffer. | |
48 | |
49 A file and a buffer are two different things. A file is information | |
50 recorded permanently in the computer (unless you delete it). A buffer, | |
51 on the other hand, is information inside of Emacs that will vanish at | |
52 the end of the editing session (or when you kill the buffer). Usually, | |
53 a buffer contains information that you have copied from a file; then we | |
54 say the buffer is visiting that file. The copy in the buffer is what | |
55 you modify with editing commands. Such changes to the buffer do not | |
56 change the file; therefore, to make the changes permanent, you must | |
57 @dfn{save} the buffer, which means copying the altered buffer contents | |
58 back into the file. | |
59 | |
60 In spite of the distinction between files and buffers, people often | |
61 refer to a file when they mean a buffer and vice-versa. Indeed, we say, | |
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62 ``I am editing a file,'' rather than, ``I am editing a buffer that I |
6555 | 63 will soon save as a file of the same name.'' Humans do not usually need |
64 to make the distinction explicit. When dealing with a computer program, | |
65 however, it is good to keep the distinction in mind. | |
66 | |
67 @menu | |
68 * Visiting Functions:: The usual interface functions for visiting. | |
69 * Subroutines of Visiting:: Lower-level subroutines that they use. | |
70 @end menu | |
71 | |
72 @node Visiting Functions | |
73 @subsection Functions for Visiting Files | |
74 | |
75 This section describes the functions normally used to visit files. | |
76 For historical reasons, these functions have names starting with | |
77 @samp{find-} rather than @samp{visit-}. @xref{Buffer File Name}, for | |
78 functions and variables that access the visited file name of a buffer or | |
79 that find an existing buffer by its visited file name. | |
80 | |
81 @deffn Command find-file filename | |
82 This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename}, | |
83 using an existing buffer if there is one, and otherwise creating a | |
84 new buffer and reading the file into it. It also returns that buffer. | |
85 | |
86 The body of the @code{find-file} function is very simple and looks | |
87 like this: | |
88 | |
89 @example | |
90 (switch-to-buffer (find-file-noselect filename)) | |
91 @end example | |
92 | |
93 @noindent | |
94 (See @code{switch-to-buffer} in @ref{Displaying Buffers}.) | |
95 | |
96 When @code{find-file} is called interactively, it prompts for | |
97 @var{filename} in the minibuffer. | |
98 @end deffn | |
99 | |
100 @defun find-file-noselect filename | |
101 This function is the guts of all the file-visiting functions. It finds | |
102 or creates a buffer visiting the file @var{filename}, and returns it. | |
103 It uses an existing buffer if there is one, and otherwise creates a new | |
104 buffer and reads the file into it. You may make the buffer current or | |
105 display it in a window if you wish, but this function does not do so. | |
106 | |
107 When @code{find-file-noselect} uses an existing buffer, it first | |
108 verifies that the file has not changed since it was last visited or | |
109 saved in that buffer. If the file has changed, then this function asks | |
110 the user whether to reread the changed file. If the user says | |
111 @samp{yes}, any changes previously made in the buffer are lost. | |
112 | |
113 If @code{find-file-noselect} needs to create a buffer, and there is no | |
114 file named @var{filename}, it displays the message @samp{New file} in | |
115 the echo area, and leaves the buffer empty. | |
116 | |
117 The @code{find-file-noselect} function calls @code{after-find-file} | |
118 after reading the file (@pxref{Subroutines of Visiting}). That function | |
119 sets the buffer major mode, parses local variables, warns the user if | |
120 there exists an auto-save file more recent than the file just visited, | |
121 and finishes by running the functions in @code{find-file-hooks}. | |
122 | |
123 The @code{find-file-noselect} function returns the buffer that is | |
124 visiting the file @var{filename}. | |
125 | |
126 @example | |
127 @group | |
128 (find-file-noselect "/etc/fstab") | |
129 @result{} #<buffer fstab> | |
130 @end group | |
131 @end example | |
132 @end defun | |
133 | |
134 @deffn Command find-alternate-file filename | |
135 This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename}, then | |
136 kills the buffer that was previously displayed in the selected window. | |
137 It is useful if you have visited the wrong file by mistake, so that you | |
138 can get rid of the buffer that you did not want to create, at the same | |
139 time as you visit the file you intended. | |
140 | |
141 When this command is called interactively, it prompts for @var{filename}. | |
142 @end deffn | |
143 | |
144 @deffn Command find-file-other-window filename | |
145 This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename}, but | |
146 does so in a window other than the selected window. It may use another | |
147 existing window or split a window; see @ref{Displaying Buffers}. | |
148 | |
149 When this command is called interactively, it prompts for | |
150 @var{filename}. | |
151 @end deffn | |
152 | |
153 @deffn Command find-file-read-only filename | |
154 This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename}, like | |
155 @code{find-file}, but it marks the buffer as read-only. @xref{Read Only | |
156 Buffers}, for related functions and variables. | |
157 | |
158 When this command is called interactively, it prompts for | |
159 @var{filename}. | |
160 @end deffn | |
161 | |
162 @deffn Command view-file filename | |
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163 This command visits @var{filename} in View mode, returning to the |
6555 | 164 previous buffer when done. View mode is a mode that allows you to skim |
165 rapidly through the file but does not let you modify it. Entering View | |
166 mode runs the normal hook @code{view-mode-hook}. @xref{Hooks}. | |
167 | |
168 When @code{view-file} is called interactively, it prompts for | |
169 @var{filename}. | |
170 @end deffn | |
171 | |
172 @defvar find-file-hooks | |
173 The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called after a | |
174 file is visited. The file's local-variables specification (if any) will | |
175 have been processed before the hooks are run. The buffer visiting the | |
176 file is current when the hook functions are run. | |
177 | |
178 This variable works just like a normal hook, but we think that renaming | |
179 it would not be advisable. | |
180 @end defvar | |
181 | |
182 @defvar find-file-not-found-hooks | |
183 The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called when | |
184 @code{find-file} or @code{find-file-noselect} is passed a nonexistent | |
185 file name. @code{find-file-noselect} calls these functions as soon as | |
186 it detects a nonexistent file. It calls them in the order of the list, | |
187 until one of them returns non-@code{nil}. @code{buffer-file-name} is | |
188 already set up. | |
189 | |
190 This is not a normal hook because the values of the functions are | |
191 used and they may not all be called. | |
192 @end defvar | |
193 | |
194 @node Subroutines of Visiting | |
195 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
196 @subsection Subroutines of Visiting | |
197 | |
198 The @code{find-file-noselect} function uses the | |
199 @code{create-file-buffer} and @code{after-find-file} functions as | |
200 subroutines. Sometimes it is useful to call them directly. | |
201 | |
202 @defun create-file-buffer filename | |
203 This function creates a suitably named buffer for visiting | |
204 @var{filename}, and returns it. It uses @var{filename} (sans directory) | |
205 as the name if that name is free; otherwise, it appends a string such as | |
206 @samp{<2>} to get an unused name. See also @ref{Creating Buffers}. | |
207 | |
208 @strong{Please note:} @code{create-file-buffer} does @emph{not} | |
209 associate the new buffer with a file and does not select the buffer. | |
210 | |
211 @example | |
212 @group | |
213 (create-file-buffer "foo") | |
214 @result{} #<buffer foo> | |
215 @end group | |
216 @group | |
217 (create-file-buffer "foo") | |
218 @result{} #<buffer foo<2>> | |
219 @end group | |
220 @group | |
221 (create-file-buffer "foo") | |
222 @result{} #<buffer foo<3>> | |
223 @end group | |
224 @end example | |
225 | |
226 This function is used by @code{find-file-noselect}. | |
227 It uses @code{generate-new-buffer} (@pxref{Creating Buffers}). | |
228 @end defun | |
229 | |
230 @defun after-find-file &optional error warn | |
231 This function sets the buffer major mode, and parses local variables | |
232 (@pxref{Auto Major Mode}). It is called by @code{find-file-noselect} | |
233 and by the default revert function (@pxref{Reverting}). | |
234 | |
235 @cindex new file message | |
236 @cindex file open error | |
237 If reading the file got an error because the file does not exist, but | |
238 its directory does exist, the caller should pass a non-@code{nil} value | |
239 for @var{error}. In that case, @code{after-find-file} issues a warning: | |
240 @samp{(New File)}. For more serious errors, the caller should usually not | |
241 call @code{after-find-file}. | |
242 | |
243 If @var{warn} is non-@code{nil}, then this function issues a warning | |
244 if an auto-save file exists and is more recent than the visited file. | |
245 | |
246 The last thing @code{after-find-file} does is call all the functions | |
247 in @code{find-file-hooks}. | |
248 @end defun | |
249 | |
250 @node Saving Buffers | |
251 @section Saving Buffers | |
252 | |
253 When you edit a file in Emacs, you are actually working on a buffer | |
254 that is visiting that file---that is, the contents of the file are | |
255 copied into the buffer and the copy is what you edit. Changes to the | |
256 buffer do not change the file until you @dfn{save} the buffer, which | |
257 means copying the contents of the buffer into the file. | |
258 | |
259 @deffn Command save-buffer &optional backup-option | |
260 This function saves the contents of the current buffer in its visited | |
261 file if the buffer has been modified since it was last visited or saved. | |
262 Otherwise it does nothing. | |
263 | |
264 @code{save-buffer} is responsible for making backup files. Normally, | |
265 @var{backup-option} is @code{nil}, and @code{save-buffer} makes a backup | |
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266 file only if this is the first save since visiting the file. Other |
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267 values for @var{backup-option} request the making of backup files in |
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268 other circumstances: |
6555 | 269 |
270 @itemize @bullet | |
271 @item | |
272 With an argument of 4 or 64, reflecting 1 or 3 @kbd{C-u}'s, the | |
273 @code{save-buffer} function marks this version of the file to be | |
274 backed up when the buffer is next saved. | |
275 | |
276 @item | |
277 With an argument of 16 or 64, reflecting 2 or 3 @kbd{C-u}'s, the | |
278 @code{save-buffer} function unconditionally backs up the previous | |
279 version of the file before saving it. | |
280 @end itemize | |
281 @end deffn | |
282 | |
283 @deffn Command save-some-buffers &optional save-silently-p exiting | |
284 This command saves some modified file-visiting buffers. Normally it | |
285 asks the user about each buffer. But if @var{save-silently-p} is | |
286 non-@code{nil}, it saves all the file-visiting buffers without querying | |
287 the user. | |
288 | |
289 The optional @var{exiting} argument, if non-@code{nil}, requests this | |
290 function to offer also to save certain other buffers that are not | |
291 visiting files. These are buffers that have a non-@code{nil} local | |
292 value of @code{buffer-offer-save}. (A user who says yes to saving one | |
293 of these is asked to specify a file name to use.) The | |
294 @code{save-buffers-kill-emacs} function passes a non-@code{nil} value | |
295 for this argument. | |
296 @end deffn | |
297 | |
298 @defvar buffer-offer-save | |
299 When this variable is non-@code{nil} in a buffer, Emacs offers to save | |
300 the buffer on exit even if the buffer is not visiting a file. The | |
301 variable is automatically local in all buffers. Normally, Mail mode | |
302 (used for editing outgoing mail) sets this to @code{t}. | |
303 @end defvar | |
304 | |
305 @deffn Command write-file filename | |
306 This function writes the current buffer into file @var{filename}, makes | |
307 the buffer visit that file, and marks it not modified. Then it renames | |
308 the buffer based on @var{filename}, appending a string like @samp{<2>} | |
309 if necessary to make a unique buffer name. It does most of this work by | |
310 calling @code{set-visited-file-name} and @code{save-buffer}. | |
311 @end deffn | |
312 | |
313 @defvar write-file-hooks | |
314 The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called before | |
315 writing out a buffer to its visited file. If one of them returns | |
316 non-@code{nil}, the file is considered already written and the rest of | |
317 the functions are not called, nor is the usual code for writing the file | |
318 executed. | |
319 | |
320 If a function in @code{write-file-hooks} returns non-@code{nil}, it | |
321 is responsible for making a backup file (if that is appropriate). | |
322 To do so, execute the following code: | |
323 | |
324 @example | |
325 (or buffer-backed-up (backup-buffer)) | |
326 @end example | |
327 | |
328 You might wish to save the file modes value returned by | |
329 @code{backup-buffer} and use that to set the mode bits of the file that | |
330 you write. This is what @code{save-buffer} normally does. | |
331 | |
332 Even though this is not a normal hook, you can use @code{add-hook} and | |
333 @code{remove-hook} to manipulate the list. @xref{Hooks}. | |
334 @end defvar | |
335 | |
336 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
337 @defvar local-write-file-hooks | |
338 This works just like @code{write-file-hooks}, but it is intended | |
339 to be made local to particular buffers. It's not a good idea to make | |
340 @code{write-file-hooks} local to a buffer---use this variable instead. | |
341 | |
342 The variable is marked as a permanent local, so that changing the major | |
343 mode does not alter a buffer-local value. This is convenient for | |
344 packages that read ``file'' contents in special ways, and set up hooks | |
345 to save the data in a corresponding way. | |
346 @end defvar | |
347 | |
348 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
349 @defvar write-contents-hooks | |
350 This works just like @code{write-file-hooks}, but it is intended for | |
351 hooks that pertain to the contents of the file, as opposed to hooks that | |
8364 | 352 pertain to where the file came from. Such hooks are usually set up by |
353 major modes, as buffer-local bindings for this variable. Switching to a | |
354 new major mode always resets this variable. | |
6555 | 355 @end defvar |
356 | |
357 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
358 @defvar after-save-hook | |
359 This normal hook runs after a buffer has been saved in its visited file. | |
360 @end defvar | |
361 | |
362 @defvar file-precious-flag | |
363 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then @code{save-buffer} protects | |
364 against I/O errors while saving by writing the new file to a temporary | |
365 name instead of the name it is supposed to have, and then renaming it to | |
366 the intended name after it is clear there are no errors. This procedure | |
367 prevents problems such as a lack of disk space from resulting in an | |
368 invalid file. | |
369 | |
370 (This feature worked differently in older Emacs versions.) | |
371 | |
372 Some modes set this non-@code{nil} locally in particular buffers. | |
373 @end defvar | |
374 | |
375 @defopt require-final-newline | |
376 This variable determines whether files may be written out that do | |
377 @emph{not} end with a newline. If the value of the variable is | |
378 @code{t}, then @code{save-buffer} silently adds a newline at the end of | |
379 the file whenever the buffer being saved does not already end in one. | |
380 If the value of the variable is non-@code{nil}, but not @code{t}, then | |
381 @code{save-buffer} asks the user whether to add a newline each time the | |
382 case arises. | |
383 | |
384 If the value of the variable is @code{nil}, then @code{save-buffer} | |
385 doesn't add newlines at all. @code{nil} is the default value, but a few | |
386 major modes set it to @code{t} in particular buffers. | |
387 @end defopt | |
388 | |
389 @node Reading from Files | |
390 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
391 @section Reading from Files | |
392 | |
393 You can copy a file from the disk and insert it into a buffer | |
394 using the @code{insert-file-contents} function. Don't use the user-level | |
395 command @code{insert-file} in a Lisp program, as that sets the mark. | |
396 | |
397 @defun insert-file-contents filename &optional visit beg end replace | |
398 This function inserts the contents of file @var{filename} into the | |
399 current buffer after point. It returns a list of the absolute file name | |
400 and the length of the data inserted. An error is signaled if | |
401 @var{filename} is not the name of a file that can be read. | |
402 | |
403 To set up saved text properties, @code{insert-file-contents} calls the | |
404 functions in the list @code{after-insert-file-functions}. For more | |
405 information, see @ref{Saving Properties}. | |
406 | |
407 If @var{visit} is non-@code{nil}, this function additionally marks the | |
408 buffer as unmodified and sets up various fields in the buffer so that it | |
409 is visiting the file @var{filename}: these include the buffer's visited | |
410 file name and its last save file modtime. This feature is used by | |
411 @code{find-file-noselect} and you probably should not use it yourself. | |
412 | |
413 If @var{beg} and @var{end} are non-@code{nil}, they should be integers | |
414 specifying the portion of the file to insert. In this case, @var{visit} | |
415 must be @code{nil}. For example, | |
416 | |
417 @example | |
418 (insert-file-contents filename nil 0 500) | |
419 @end example | |
420 | |
421 @noindent | |
422 inserts the first 500 characters of a file. | |
423 | |
424 If the argument @var{replace} is non-@code{nil}, it means to replace the | |
425 contents of the buffer (actually, just the accessible portion) with the | |
426 contents of the file. This is better than simply deleting the buffer | |
427 contents and inserting the whole file, because (1) it preserves some | |
428 marker positions and (2) it puts less data in the undo list. | |
429 @end defun | |
430 | |
431 If you want to pass a file name to another process so that another | |
432 program can read the file, use the function @code{file-local-copy}; see | |
433 @ref{Magic File Names}. | |
434 | |
435 @node Writing to Files | |
436 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
437 @section Writing to Files | |
438 | |
439 You can write the contents of a buffer, or part of a buffer, directly | |
440 to a file on disk using the @code{append-to-file} and | |
441 @code{write-region} functions. Don't use these functions to write to | |
442 files that are being visited; that could cause confusion in the | |
443 mechanisms for visiting. | |
444 | |
445 @deffn Command append-to-file start end filename | |
446 This function appends the contents of the region delimited by | |
447 @var{start} and @var{end} in the current buffer to the end of file | |
448 @var{filename}. If that file does not exist, it is created. This | |
449 function returns @code{nil}. | |
450 | |
451 An error is signaled if @var{filename} specifies a nonwritable file, | |
452 or a nonexistent file in a directory where files cannot be created. | |
453 @end deffn | |
454 | |
455 @deffn Command write-region start end filename &optional append visit | |
456 This function writes the region delimited by @var{start} and @var{end} | |
457 in the current buffer into the file specified by @var{filename}. | |
458 | |
459 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
460 If @var{start} is a string, then @code{write-region} writes or appends | |
461 that string, rather than text from the buffer. | |
462 | |
463 If @var{append} is non-@code{nil}, then the specified text is appended | |
464 to the existing file contents (if any). | |
465 | |
466 If @var{visit} is @code{t}, then Emacs establishes an association | |
467 between the buffer and the file: the buffer is then visiting that file. | |
468 It also sets the last file modification time for the current buffer to | |
469 @var{filename}'s modtime, and marks the buffer as not modified. This | |
470 feature is used by @code{save-buffer}, but you probably should not use | |
471 it yourself. | |
472 | |
473 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
474 If @var{visit} is a string, it specifies the file name to visit. This | |
475 way, you can write the data to one file (@var{filename}) while recording | |
476 the buffer as visiting another file (@var{visit}). The argument | |
477 @var{visit} is used in the echo area message and also for file locking; | |
478 @var{visit} is stored in @code{buffer-file-name}. This feature is used | |
479 to implement @code{file-precious-flag}; don't use it yourself unless you | |
480 really know what you're doing. | |
481 | |
482 To output information about text properties, @code{write-region} calls | |
483 the functions in the list @code{write-region-annotation-functions}. For | |
484 more information, see @ref{Saving Properties}. | |
485 | |
486 Normally, @code{write-region} displays a message @samp{Wrote file | |
487 @var{filename}} in the echo area. If @var{visit} is neither @code{t} | |
488 nor @code{nil} nor a string, then this message is inhibited. This | |
489 feature is useful for programs that use files for internal purposes, | |
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490 files that the user does not need to know about. |
6555 | 491 @end deffn |
492 | |
493 @node File Locks | |
494 @section File Locks | |
495 @cindex file locks | |
496 | |
497 When two users edit the same file at the same time, they are likely to | |
498 interfere with each other. Emacs tries to prevent this situation from | |
499 arising by recording a @dfn{file lock} when a file is being modified. | |
500 Emacs can then detect the first attempt to modify a buffer visiting a | |
501 file that is locked by another Emacs job, and ask the user what to do. | |
502 | |
503 File locks do not work properly when multiple machines can share | |
504 file systems, such as with NFS. Perhaps a better file locking system | |
505 will be implemented in the future. When file locks do not work, it is | |
506 possible for two users to make changes simultaneously, but Emacs can | |
507 still warn the user who saves second. Also, the detection of | |
508 modification of a buffer visiting a file changed on disk catches some | |
509 cases of simultaneous editing; see @ref{Modification Time}. | |
510 | |
511 @defun file-locked-p filename | |
512 This function returns @code{nil} if the file @var{filename} is not | |
513 locked by this Emacs process. It returns @code{t} if it is locked by | |
514 this Emacs, and it returns the name of the user who has locked it if it | |
515 is locked by someone else. | |
516 | |
517 @example | |
518 @group | |
519 (file-locked-p "foo") | |
520 @result{} nil | |
521 @end group | |
522 @end example | |
523 @end defun | |
524 | |
525 @defun lock-buffer &optional filename | |
526 This function locks the file @var{filename}, if the current buffer is | |
527 modified. The argument @var{filename} defaults to the current buffer's | |
528 visited file. Nothing is done if the current buffer is not visiting a | |
529 file, or is not modified. | |
530 @end defun | |
531 | |
532 @defun unlock-buffer | |
533 This function unlocks the file being visited in the current buffer, | |
534 if the buffer is modified. If the buffer is not modified, then | |
535 the file should not be locked, so this function does nothing. It also | |
536 does nothing if the current buffer is not visiting a file. | |
537 @end defun | |
538 | |
539 @defun ask-user-about-lock file other-user | |
540 This function is called when the user tries to modify @var{file}, but it | |
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541 is locked by another user named @var{other-user}. The value it returns |
6555 | 542 determines what happens next: |
543 | |
544 @itemize @bullet | |
545 @item | |
546 A value of @code{t} says to grab the lock on the file. Then | |
547 this user may edit the file and @var{other-user} loses the lock. | |
548 | |
549 @item | |
550 A value of @code{nil} says to ignore the lock and let this | |
551 user edit the file anyway. | |
552 | |
553 @item | |
554 @kindex file-locked | |
555 This function may instead signal a @code{file-locked} error, in which | |
556 case the change that the user was about to make does not take place. | |
557 | |
558 The error message for this error looks like this: | |
559 | |
560 @example | |
561 @error{} File is locked: @var{file} @var{other-user} | |
562 @end example | |
563 | |
564 @noindent | |
565 where @code{file} is the name of the file and @var{other-user} is the | |
566 name of the user who has locked the file. | |
567 @end itemize | |
568 | |
569 The default definition of this function asks the user to choose what | |
570 to do. If you wish, you can replace the @code{ask-user-about-lock} | |
571 function with your own version that decides in another way. The code | |
572 for its usual definition is in @file{userlock.el}. | |
573 @end defun | |
574 | |
575 @node Information about Files | |
576 @section Information about Files | |
577 | |
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578 The functions described in this section all operate on strings that |
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579 designate file names. All the functions have names that begin with the |
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580 word @samp{file}. These functions all return information about actual |
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581 files or directories, so their arguments must all exist as actual files |
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582 or directories unless otherwise noted. |
6555 | 583 |
584 @menu | |
585 * Testing Accessibility:: Is a given file readable? Writable? | |
586 * Kinds of Files:: Is it a directory? A symbolic link? | |
587 * Truenames:: Eliminating symbolic links from a file name. | |
588 * File Attributes:: How large is it? Any other names? Etc. | |
589 @end menu | |
590 | |
591 @node Testing Accessibility | |
592 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
593 @subsection Testing Accessibility | |
594 @cindex accessibility of a file | |
595 @cindex file accessibility | |
596 | |
597 These functions test for permission to access a file in specific ways. | |
598 | |
599 @defun file-exists-p filename | |
600 This function returns @code{t} if a file named @var{filename} appears | |
601 to exist. This does not mean you can necessarily read the file, only | |
602 that you can find out its attributes. (On Unix, this is true if the | |
603 file exists and you have execute permission on the containing | |
604 directories, regardless of the protection of the file itself.) | |
605 | |
606 If the file does not exist, or if fascist access control policies | |
607 prevent you from finding the attributes of the file, this function | |
608 returns @code{nil}. | |
609 @end defun | |
610 | |
611 @defun file-readable-p filename | |
612 This function returns @code{t} if a file named @var{filename} exists | |
613 and you can read it. It returns @code{nil} otherwise. | |
614 | |
615 @example | |
616 @group | |
617 (file-readable-p "files.texi") | |
618 @result{} t | |
619 @end group | |
620 @group | |
621 (file-exists-p "/usr/spool/mqueue") | |
622 @result{} t | |
623 @end group | |
624 @group | |
625 (file-readable-p "/usr/spool/mqueue") | |
626 @result{} nil | |
627 @end group | |
628 @end example | |
629 @end defun | |
630 | |
631 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
632 @defun file-executable-p filename | |
633 This function returns @code{t} if a file named @var{filename} exists and | |
634 you can execute it. It returns @code{nil} otherwise. If the file is a | |
635 directory, execute permission means you can check the existence and | |
636 attributes of files inside the directory, and open those files if their | |
637 modes permit. | |
638 @end defun | |
639 | |
640 @defun file-writable-p filename | |
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641 This function returns @code{t} if the file @var{filename} can be written |
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642 or created by you, and @code{nil} otherwise. A file is writable if the |
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643 file exists and you can write it. It is creatable if it does not exist, |
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644 but the specified directory does exist and you can write in that |
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645 directory. |
6555 | 646 |
647 In the third example below, @file{foo} is not writable because the | |
648 parent directory does not exist, even though the user could create such | |
649 a directory. | |
650 | |
651 @example | |
652 @group | |
653 (file-writable-p "~/foo") | |
654 @result{} t | |
655 @end group | |
656 @group | |
657 (file-writable-p "/foo") | |
658 @result{} nil | |
659 @end group | |
660 @group | |
661 (file-writable-p "~/no-such-dir/foo") | |
662 @result{} nil | |
663 @end group | |
664 @end example | |
665 @end defun | |
666 | |
667 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
668 @defun file-accessible-directory-p dirname | |
669 This function returns @code{t} if you have permission to open existing | |
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670 files in the directory whose name as a file is @var{dirname}; otherwise |
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671 (or if there is no such directory), it returns @code{nil}. The value |
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672 of @var{dirname} may be either a directory name or the file name of a |
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673 directory. |
6555 | 674 |
675 Example: after the following, | |
676 | |
677 @example | |
678 (file-accessible-directory-p "/foo") | |
679 @result{} nil | |
680 @end example | |
681 | |
682 @noindent | |
683 we can deduce that any attempt to read a file in @file{/foo/} will | |
684 give an error. | |
685 @end defun | |
686 | |
687 @defun file-newer-than-file-p filename1 filename2 | |
688 @cindex file age | |
689 @cindex file modification time | |
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690 This function returns @code{t} if the file @var{filename1} is |
6555 | 691 newer than file @var{filename2}. If @var{filename1} does not |
692 exist, it returns @code{nil}. If @var{filename2} does not exist, | |
693 it returns @code{t}. | |
694 | |
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695 In the following example, assume that the file @file{aug-19} was written |
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696 on the 19th, @file{aug-20} was written on the 20th, and the file |
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697 @file{no-file} doesn't exist at all. |
6555 | 698 |
699 @example | |
700 @group | |
701 (file-newer-than-file-p "aug-19" "aug-20") | |
702 @result{} nil | |
703 @end group | |
704 @group | |
705 (file-newer-than-file-p "aug-20" "aug-19") | |
706 @result{} t | |
707 @end group | |
708 @group | |
709 (file-newer-than-file-p "aug-19" "no-file") | |
710 @result{} t | |
711 @end group | |
712 @group | |
713 (file-newer-than-file-p "no-file" "aug-19") | |
714 @result{} nil | |
715 @end group | |
716 @end example | |
717 | |
718 You can use @code{file-attributes} to get a file's last modification | |
719 time as a list of two numbers. @xref{File Attributes}. | |
720 @end defun | |
721 | |
722 @node Kinds of Files | |
723 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
724 @subsection Distinguishing Kinds of Files | |
725 | |
726 This section describes how to distinguish directories and symbolic | |
727 links from ordinary files. | |
728 | |
729 @defun file-symlink-p filename | |
730 @cindex file symbolic links | |
731 If the file @var{filename} is a symbolic link, the @code{file-symlink-p} | |
732 function returns the file name to which it is linked. This may be the | |
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733 name of a text file, a directory, or even another symbolic link, or it |
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734 may be a nonexistent file name. |
6555 | 735 |
736 If the file @var{filename} is not a symbolic link (or there is no such file), | |
737 @code{file-symlink-p} returns @code{nil}. | |
738 | |
739 @example | |
740 @group | |
741 (file-symlink-p "foo") | |
742 @result{} nil | |
743 @end group | |
744 @group | |
745 (file-symlink-p "sym-link") | |
746 @result{} "foo" | |
747 @end group | |
748 @group | |
749 (file-symlink-p "sym-link2") | |
750 @result{} "sym-link" | |
751 @end group | |
752 @group | |
753 (file-symlink-p "/bin") | |
754 @result{} "/pub/bin" | |
755 @end group | |
756 @end example | |
757 | |
758 @c !!! file-symlink-p: should show output of ls -l for comparison | |
759 @end defun | |
760 | |
761 @defun file-directory-p filename | |
762 This function returns @code{t} if @var{filename} is the name of an | |
763 existing directory, @code{nil} otherwise. | |
764 | |
765 @example | |
766 @group | |
767 (file-directory-p "~rms") | |
768 @result{} t | |
769 @end group | |
770 @group | |
771 (file-directory-p "~rms/lewis/files.texi") | |
772 @result{} nil | |
773 @end group | |
774 @group | |
775 (file-directory-p "~rms/lewis/no-such-file") | |
776 @result{} nil | |
777 @end group | |
778 @group | |
779 (file-directory-p "$HOME") | |
780 @result{} nil | |
781 @end group | |
782 @group | |
783 (file-directory-p | |
784 (substitute-in-file-name "$HOME")) | |
785 @result{} t | |
786 @end group | |
787 @end example | |
788 @end defun | |
789 | |
790 @node Truenames | |
791 @subsection Truenames | |
792 @cindex truename (of file) | |
793 | |
794 @c Emacs 19 features | |
795 The @dfn{truename} of a file is the name that you get by following | |
796 symbolic links until none remain, then expanding to get rid of @samp{.} | |
797 and @samp{..} as components. Strictly speaking, a file need not have a | |
798 unique truename; the number of distinct truenames a file has is equal to | |
799 the number of hard links to the file. However, truenames are useful | |
800 because they eliminate symbolic links as a cause of name variation. | |
801 | |
802 @defun file-truename filename | |
803 The function @code{file-truename} returns the true name of the file | |
804 @var{filename}. This is the name that you get by following symbolic | |
805 links until none remain. The argument must be an absolute file name. | |
806 @end defun | |
807 | |
808 @xref{Buffer File Name}, for related information. | |
809 | |
810 @node File Attributes | |
811 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
812 @subsection Other Information about Files | |
813 | |
814 This section describes the functions for getting detailed information | |
815 about a file, other than its contents. This information includes the | |
816 mode bits that control access permission, the owner and group numbers, | |
817 the number of names, the inode number, the size, and the times of access | |
818 and modification. | |
819 | |
820 @defun file-modes filename | |
821 @cindex permission | |
822 @cindex file attributes | |
823 This function returns the mode bits of @var{filename}, as an integer. | |
824 The mode bits are also called the file permissions, and they specify | |
825 access control in the usual Unix fashion. If the low-order bit is 1, | |
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826 then the file is executable by all users, if the second-lowest-order bit |
6555 | 827 is 1, then the file is writable by all users, etc. |
828 | |
829 The highest value returnable is 4095 (7777 octal), meaning that | |
830 everyone has read, write, and execute permission, that the @sc{suid} bit | |
831 is set for both others and group, and that the sticky bit is set. | |
832 | |
833 @example | |
834 @group | |
835 (file-modes "~/junk/diffs") | |
836 @result{} 492 ; @r{Decimal integer.} | |
837 @end group | |
838 @group | |
839 (format "%o" 492) | |
840 @result{} "754" ; @r{Convert to octal.} | |
841 @end group | |
842 | |
843 @group | |
844 (set-file-modes "~/junk/diffs" 438) | |
845 @result{} nil | |
846 @end group | |
847 | |
848 @group | |
849 (format "%o" 438) | |
850 @result{} "666" ; @r{Convert to octal.} | |
851 @end group | |
852 | |
853 @group | |
854 % ls -l diffs | |
855 -rw-rw-rw- 1 lewis 0 3063 Oct 30 16:00 diffs | |
856 @end group | |
857 @end example | |
858 @end defun | |
859 | |
860 @defun file-nlinks filename | |
861 This functions returns the number of names (i.e., hard links) that | |
862 file @var{filename} has. If the file does not exist, then this function | |
863 returns @code{nil}. Note that symbolic links have no effect on this | |
864 function, because they are not considered to be names of the files they | |
865 link to. | |
866 | |
867 @example | |
868 @group | |
869 % ls -l foo* | |
870 -rw-rw-rw- 2 rms 4 Aug 19 01:27 foo | |
871 -rw-rw-rw- 2 rms 4 Aug 19 01:27 foo1 | |
872 @end group | |
873 | |
874 @group | |
875 (file-nlinks "foo") | |
876 @result{} 2 | |
877 @end group | |
878 @group | |
879 (file-nlinks "doesnt-exist") | |
880 @result{} nil | |
881 @end group | |
882 @end example | |
883 @end defun | |
884 | |
885 @defun file-attributes filename | |
886 This function returns a list of attributes of file @var{filename}. If | |
887 the specified file cannot be opened, it returns @code{nil}. | |
888 | |
889 The elements of the list, in order, are: | |
890 | |
891 @enumerate 0 | |
892 @item | |
893 @code{t} for a directory, a string for a symbolic link (the name | |
894 linked to), or @code{nil} for a text file. | |
895 | |
896 @c Wordy so as to prevent an overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 | |
897 @item | |
898 The number of names the file has. Alternate names, also known as hard | |
899 links, can be created by using the @code{add-name-to-file} function | |
900 (@pxref{Changing File Attributes}). | |
901 | |
902 @item | |
903 The file's @sc{uid}. | |
904 | |
905 @item | |
906 The file's @sc{gid}. | |
907 | |
908 @item | |
909 The time of last access, as a list of two integers. | |
910 The first integer has the high-order 16 bits of time, | |
911 the second has the low 16 bits. (This is similar to the | |
912 value of @code{current-time}; see @ref{Time of Day}.) | |
913 | |
914 @item | |
915 The time of last modification as a list of two integers (as above). | |
916 | |
917 @item | |
918 The time of last status change as a list of two integers (as above). | |
919 | |
920 @item | |
921 The size of the file in bytes. | |
922 | |
923 @item | |
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924 The file's modes, as a string of ten letters or dashes, |
6555 | 925 as in @samp{ls -l}. |
926 | |
927 @item | |
928 @code{t} if the file's @sc{gid} would change if file were | |
929 deleted and recreated; @code{nil} otherwise. | |
930 | |
931 @item | |
932 The file's inode number. | |
933 | |
934 @item | |
935 The file system number of the file system that the file is in. This | |
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936 element and the file's inode number together give enough information to |
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937 distinguish any two files on the system---no two files can have the same |
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938 values for both of these numbers. |
6555 | 939 @end enumerate |
940 | |
941 For example, here are the file attributes for @file{files.texi}: | |
942 | |
943 @example | |
944 @group | |
945 (file-attributes "files.texi") | |
946 @result{} (nil | |
947 1 | |
948 2235 | |
949 75 | |
950 (8489 20284) | |
951 (8489 20284) | |
952 (8489 20285) | |
953 14906 | |
954 "-rw-rw-rw-" | |
955 nil | |
956 129500 | |
957 -32252) | |
958 @end group | |
959 @end example | |
960 | |
961 @noindent | |
962 and here is how the result is interpreted: | |
963 | |
964 @table @code | |
965 @item nil | |
966 is neither a directory nor a symbolic link. | |
967 | |
968 @item 1 | |
969 has only one name (the name @file{files.texi} in the current default | |
970 directory). | |
971 | |
972 @item 2235 | |
973 is owned by the user with @sc{uid} 2235. | |
974 | |
975 @item 75 | |
976 is in the group with @sc{gid} 75. | |
977 | |
978 @item (8489 20284) | |
979 was last accessed on Aug 19 00:09. Unfortunately, you cannot convert | |
980 this number into a time string in Emacs. | |
981 | |
982 @item (8489 20284) | |
983 was last modified on Aug 19 00:09. | |
984 | |
985 @item (8489 20285) | |
986 last had its inode changed on Aug 19 00:09. | |
987 | |
988 @item 14906 | |
989 is 14906 characters long. | |
990 | |
991 @item "-rw-rw-rw-" | |
992 has a mode of read and write access for the owner, group, and world. | |
993 | |
994 @item nil | |
995 would retain the same @sc{gid} if it were recreated. | |
996 | |
997 @item 129500 | |
998 has an inode number of 129500. | |
999 @item -32252 | |
1000 is on file system number -32252. | |
1001 @end table | |
1002 @end defun | |
1003 | |
1004 @node Changing File Attributes | |
1005 @section Changing File Names and Attributes | |
1006 @cindex renaming files | |
1007 @cindex copying files | |
1008 @cindex deleting files | |
1009 @cindex linking files | |
1010 @cindex setting modes of files | |
1011 | |
1012 The functions in this section rename, copy, delete, link, and set the | |
1013 modes of files. | |
1014 | |
1015 In the functions that have an argument @var{newname}, if a file by the | |
1016 name of @var{newname} already exists, the actions taken depend on the | |
1017 value of the argument @var{ok-if-already-exists}: | |
1018 | |
1019 @itemize @bullet | |
1020 @item | |
1021 Signal a @code{file-already-exists} error if | |
1022 @var{ok-if-already-exists} is @code{nil}. | |
1023 | |
1024 @item | |
1025 Request confirmation if @var{ok-if-already-exists} is a number. | |
1026 | |
1027 @item | |
1028 Replace the old file without confirmation if @var{ok-if-already-exists} | |
1029 is any other value. | |
1030 @end itemize | |
1031 | |
1032 @defun add-name-to-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-already-exists | |
1033 @cindex file with multiple names | |
1034 @cindex file hard link | |
1035 This function gives the file named @var{oldname} the additional name | |
1036 @var{newname}. This means that @var{newname} becomes a new ``hard | |
1037 link'' to @var{oldname}. | |
1038 | |
1039 In the first part of the following example, we list two files, | |
1040 @file{foo} and @file{foo3}. | |
1041 | |
1042 @example | |
1043 @group | |
1044 % ls -l fo* | |
1045 -rw-rw-rw- 1 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo | |
1046 -rw-rw-rw- 1 rms 24 Aug 18 20:31 foo3 | |
1047 @end group | |
1048 @end example | |
1049 | |
1050 Then we evaluate the form @code{(add-name-to-file "~/lewis/foo" | |
1051 "~/lewis/foo2")}. Again we list the files. This shows two names, | |
1052 @file{foo} and @file{foo2}. | |
1053 | |
1054 @example | |
1055 @group | |
1056 (add-name-to-file "~/lewis/foo1" "~/lewis/foo2") | |
1057 @result{} nil | |
1058 @end group | |
1059 | |
1060 @group | |
1061 % ls -l fo* | |
1062 -rw-rw-rw- 2 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo | |
1063 -rw-rw-rw- 2 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo2 | |
1064 -rw-rw-rw- 1 rms 24 Aug 18 20:31 foo3 | |
1065 @end group | |
1066 @end example | |
1067 | |
1068 @c !!! Check whether this set of examples is consistent. --rjc 15mar92 | |
1069 Finally, we evaluate the following: | |
1070 | |
1071 @example | |
1072 (add-name-to-file "~/lewis/foo" "~/lewis/foo3" t) | |
1073 @end example | |
1074 | |
1075 @noindent | |
1076 and list the files again. Now there are three names | |
1077 for one file: @file{foo}, @file{foo2}, and @file{foo3}. The old | |
1078 contents of @file{foo3} are lost. | |
1079 | |
1080 @example | |
1081 @group | |
1082 (add-name-to-file "~/lewis/foo1" "~/lewis/foo3") | |
1083 @result{} nil | |
1084 @end group | |
1085 | |
1086 @group | |
1087 % ls -l fo* | |
1088 -rw-rw-rw- 3 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo | |
1089 -rw-rw-rw- 3 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo2 | |
1090 -rw-rw-rw- 3 rms 29 Aug 18 20:32 foo3 | |
1091 @end group | |
1092 @end example | |
1093 | |
1094 This function is meaningless on VMS, where multiple names for one file | |
1095 are not allowed. | |
1096 | |
1097 See also @code{file-nlinks} in @ref{File Attributes}. | |
1098 @end defun | |
1099 | |
1100 @deffn Command rename-file filename newname &optional ok-if-already-exists | |
1101 This command renames the file @var{filename} as @var{newname}. | |
1102 | |
1103 If @var{filename} has additional names aside from @var{filename}, it | |
1104 continues to have those names. In fact, adding the name @var{newname} | |
1105 with @code{add-name-to-file} and then deleting @var{filename} has the | |
1106 same effect as renaming, aside from momentary intermediate states. | |
1107 | |
1108 In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and | |
1109 @var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if | |
1110 @var{newname} already exists. | |
1111 @end deffn | |
1112 | |
1113 @deffn Command copy-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-exists time | |
1114 This command copies the file @var{oldname} to @var{newname}. An | |
1115 error is signaled if @var{oldname} does not exist. | |
1116 | |
1117 If @var{time} is non-@code{nil}, then this functions gives the new | |
1118 file the same last-modified time that the old one has. (This works on | |
1119 only some operating systems.) | |
1120 | |
1121 In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and | |
1122 @var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if | |
1123 @var{newname} already exists. | |
1124 @end deffn | |
1125 | |
1126 @deffn Command delete-file filename | |
1127 @pindex rm | |
1128 This command deletes the file @var{filename}, like the shell command | |
1129 @samp{rm @var{filename}}. If the file has multiple names, it continues | |
1130 to exist under the other names. | |
1131 | |
1132 A suitable kind of @code{file-error} error is signaled if the file | |
1133 does not exist, or is not deletable. (On Unix, a file is deletable if | |
1134 its directory is writable.) | |
1135 | |
1136 See also @code{delete-directory} in @ref{Create/Delete Dirs}. | |
1137 @end deffn | |
1138 | |
1139 @deffn Command make-symbolic-link filename newname &optional ok-if-exists | |
1140 @pindex ln | |
1141 @kindex file-already-exists | |
1142 This command makes a symbolic link to @var{filename}, named | |
1143 @var{newname}. This is like the shell command @samp{ln -s | |
1144 @var{filename} @var{newname}}. | |
1145 | |
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1146 In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and |
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1147 @var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if |
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1148 @var{newname} already exists. |
6555 | 1149 @end deffn |
1150 | |
1151 @defun define-logical-name varname string | |
1152 This function defines the logical name @var{name} to have the value | |
1153 @var{string}. It is available only on VMS. | |
1154 @end defun | |
1155 | |
1156 @defun set-file-modes filename mode | |
1157 This function sets mode bits of @var{filename} to @var{mode} (which must | |
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1158 be an integer). Only the low 12 bits of @var{mode} are used. |
6555 | 1159 @end defun |
1160 | |
1161 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
1162 @defun set-default-file-modes mode | |
1163 This function sets the default file protection for new files created by | |
1164 Emacs and its subprocesses. Every file created with Emacs initially has | |
1165 this protection. On Unix, the default protection is the bitwise | |
1166 complement of the ``umask'' value. | |
1167 | |
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1168 The argument @var{mode} must be an integer. Only the low 9 bits of |
6555 | 1169 @var{mode} are used. |
1170 | |
1171 Saving a modified version of an existing file does not count as creating | |
1172 the file; it does not change the file's mode, and does not use the | |
1173 default file protection. | |
1174 @end defun | |
1175 | |
1176 @defun default-file-modes | |
1177 This function returns the current default protection value. | |
1178 @end defun | |
1179 | |
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1180 @cindex MS-DOS and file modes |
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1181 @cindex file modes and MS-DOS |
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1182 On MS-DOS, there is no such thing as an ``executable'' file mode bit. |
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1183 So Emacs considers a file executable if its name ends in @samp{.com}, |
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1184 @samp{.bat} or @samp{.exe}. This is reflected in the values returned |
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1185 by @code{file-modes} and @code{file-attributes}. |
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1186 |
6555 | 1187 @node File Names |
1188 @section File Names | |
1189 @cindex file names | |
1190 | |
1191 Files are generally referred to by their names, in Emacs as elsewhere. | |
1192 File names in Emacs are represented as strings. The functions that | |
1193 operate on a file all expect a file name argument. | |
1194 | |
1195 In addition to operating on files themselves, Emacs Lisp programs | |
1196 often need to operate on the names; i.e., to take them apart and to use | |
1197 part of a name to construct related file names. This section describes | |
1198 how to manipulate file names. | |
1199 | |
1200 The functions in this section do not actually access files, so they | |
1201 can operate on file names that do not refer to an existing file or | |
1202 directory. | |
1203 | |
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1204 On VMS, all these functions understand both VMS file-name syntax and |
6555 | 1205 Unix syntax. This is so that all the standard Lisp libraries can |
1206 specify file names in Unix syntax and work properly on VMS without | |
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1207 change. On MS-DOS, these functions understand MS-DOS file-name syntax |
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1208 as well as Unix syntax. |
6555 | 1209 |
1210 @menu | |
1211 * File Name Components:: The directory part of a file name, and the rest. | |
1212 * Directory Names:: A directory's name as a directory | |
1213 is different from its name as a file. | |
1214 * Relative File Names:: Some file names are relative to a current directory. | |
1215 * File Name Expansion:: Converting relative file names to absolute ones. | |
1216 * Unique File Names:: Generating names for temporary files. | |
1217 * File Name Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name. | |
1218 @end menu | |
1219 | |
1220 @node File Name Components | |
1221 @subsection File Name Components | |
1222 @cindex directory part (of file name) | |
1223 @cindex nondirectory part (of file name) | |
1224 @cindex version number (in file name) | |
1225 | |
1226 The operating system groups files into directories. To specify a | |
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1227 file, you must specify the directory and the file's name within that |
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1228 directory. Therefore, Emacs considers a file name as having two main |
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1229 parts: the @dfn{directory name} part, and the @dfn{nondirectory} part |
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1230 (or @dfn{file name within the directory}). Either part may be empty. |
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1231 Concatenating these two parts reproduces the original file name. |
6555 | 1232 |
1233 On Unix, the directory part is everything up to and including the last | |
1234 slash; the nondirectory part is the rest. The rules in VMS syntax are | |
1235 complicated. | |
1236 | |
1237 For some purposes, the nondirectory part is further subdivided into | |
1238 the name proper and the @dfn{version number}. On Unix, only backup | |
1239 files have version numbers in their names; on VMS, every file has a | |
1240 version number, but most of the time the file name actually used in | |
1241 Emacs omits the version number. Version numbers are found mostly in | |
1242 directory lists. | |
1243 | |
1244 @defun file-name-directory filename | |
1245 This function returns the directory part of @var{filename} (or | |
1246 @code{nil} if @var{filename} does not include a directory part). On | |
1247 Unix, the function returns a string ending in a slash. On VMS, it | |
1248 returns a string ending in one of the three characters @samp{:}, | |
1249 @samp{]}, or @samp{>}. | |
1250 | |
1251 @example | |
1252 @group | |
1253 (file-name-directory "lewis/foo") ; @r{Unix example} | |
1254 @result{} "lewis/" | |
1255 @end group | |
1256 @group | |
1257 (file-name-directory "foo") ; @r{Unix example} | |
1258 @result{} nil | |
1259 @end group | |
1260 @group | |
1261 (file-name-directory "[X]FOO.TMP") ; @r{VMS example} | |
1262 @result{} "[X]" | |
1263 @end group | |
1264 @end example | |
1265 @end defun | |
1266 | |
1267 @defun file-name-nondirectory filename | |
1268 This function returns the nondirectory part of @var{filename}. | |
1269 | |
1270 @example | |
1271 @group | |
1272 (file-name-nondirectory "lewis/foo") | |
1273 @result{} "foo" | |
1274 @end group | |
1275 @group | |
1276 (file-name-nondirectory "foo") | |
1277 @result{} "foo" | |
1278 @end group | |
1279 @group | |
1280 ;; @r{The following example is accurate only on VMS.} | |
1281 (file-name-nondirectory "[X]FOO.TMP") | |
1282 @result{} "FOO.TMP" | |
1283 @end group | |
1284 @end example | |
1285 @end defun | |
1286 | |
1287 @defun file-name-sans-versions filename | |
1288 This function returns @var{filename} without any file version numbers, | |
1289 backup version numbers, or trailing tildes. | |
1290 | |
1291 @example | |
1292 @group | |
1293 (file-name-sans-versions "~rms/foo.~1~") | |
1294 @result{} "~rms/foo" | |
1295 @end group | |
1296 @group | |
1297 (file-name-sans-versions "~rms/foo~") | |
1298 @result{} "~rms/foo" | |
1299 @end group | |
1300 @group | |
1301 (file-name-sans-versions "~rms/foo") | |
1302 @result{} "~rms/foo" | |
1303 @end group | |
1304 @group | |
1305 ;; @r{The following example applies to VMS only.} | |
1306 (file-name-sans-versions "foo;23") | |
1307 @result{} "foo" | |
1308 @end group | |
1309 @end example | |
1310 @end defun | |
1311 | |
1312 @node Directory Names | |
1313 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
1314 @subsection Directory Names | |
1315 @cindex directory name | |
1316 @cindex file name of directory | |
1317 | |
1318 A @dfn{directory name} is the name of a directory. A directory is a | |
1319 kind of file, and it has a file name, which is related to the directory | |
1320 name but not identical to it. (This is not quite the same as the usual | |
1321 Unix terminology.) These two different names for the same entity are | |
1322 related by a syntactic transformation. On Unix, this is simple: a | |
1323 directory name ends in a slash, whereas the directory's name as a file | |
1324 lacks that slash. On VMS, the relationship is more complicated. | |
1325 | |
1326 The difference between a directory name and its name as a file is | |
1327 subtle but crucial. When an Emacs variable or function argument is | |
1328 described as being a directory name, a file name of a directory is not | |
1329 acceptable. | |
1330 | |
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1331 The following two functions convert between directory names and file |
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1332 names. They do nothing special with environment variable substitutions |
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1333 such as @samp{$HOME}, and the constructs @samp{~}, and @samp{..}. |
6555 | 1334 |
1335 @defun file-name-as-directory filename | |
1336 This function returns a string representing @var{filename} in a form | |
1337 that the operating system will interpret as the name of a directory. In | |
1338 Unix, this means appending a slash to the string. On VMS, the function | |
1339 converts a string of the form @file{[X]Y.DIR.1} to the form | |
1340 @file{[X.Y]}. | |
1341 | |
1342 @example | |
1343 @group | |
1344 (file-name-as-directory "~rms/lewis") | |
1345 @result{} "~rms/lewis/" | |
1346 @end group | |
1347 @end example | |
1348 @end defun | |
1349 | |
1350 @defun directory-file-name dirname | |
1351 This function returns a string representing @var{dirname} in a form | |
1352 that the operating system will interpret as the name of a file. On | |
1353 Unix, this means removing a final slash from the string. On VMS, the | |
1354 function converts a string of the form @file{[X.Y]} to | |
1355 @file{[X]Y.DIR.1}. | |
1356 | |
1357 @example | |
1358 @group | |
1359 (directory-file-name "~lewis/") | |
1360 @result{} "~lewis" | |
1361 @end group | |
1362 @end example | |
1363 @end defun | |
1364 | |
1365 @cindex directory name abbreviation | |
1366 Directory name abbreviations are useful for directories that are | |
1367 normally accessed through symbolic links. Sometimes the users recognize | |
1368 primarily the link's name as ``the name'' of the directory, and find it | |
1369 annoying to see the directory's ``real'' name. If you define the link | |
1370 name as an abbreviation for the ``real'' name, Emacs shows users the | |
1371 abbreviation instead. | |
1372 | |
1373 @defvar directory-abbrev-alist | |
1374 The variable @code{directory-abbrev-alist} contains an alist of | |
1375 abbreviations to use for file directories. Each element has the form | |
1376 @code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, and says to replace @var{from} with | |
1377 @var{to} when it appears in a directory name. The @var{from} string is | |
1378 actually a regular expression; it should always start with @samp{^}. | |
1379 The function @code{abbreviate-file-name} performs these substitutions. | |
1380 | |
1381 You can set this variable in @file{site-init.el} to describe the | |
1382 abbreviations appropriate for your site. | |
1383 | |
1384 Here's an example, from a system on which file system @file{/home/fsf} | |
1385 and so on are normally accessed through symbolic links named @file{/fsf} | |
1386 and so on. | |
1387 | |
1388 @example | |
1389 (("^/home/fsf" . "/fsf") | |
1390 ("^/home/gp" . "/gp") | |
1391 ("^/home/gd" . "/gd")) | |
1392 @end example | |
1393 @end defvar | |
1394 | |
1395 To convert a directory name to its abbreviation, use this | |
1396 function: | |
1397 | |
1398 @defun abbreviate-file-name dirname | |
1399 This function applies abbreviations from @code{directory-abbrev-alist} | |
1400 to its argument, and substitutes @samp{~} for the user's home | |
1401 directory. | |
1402 @end defun | |
1403 | |
1404 @node Relative File Names | |
1405 @subsection Absolute and Relative File Names | |
1406 @cindex absolute file name | |
1407 @cindex relative file name | |
1408 | |
1409 All the directories in the file system form a tree starting at the | |
1410 root directory. A file name can specify all the directory names | |
1411 starting from the root of the tree; then it is called an @dfn{absolute} | |
1412 file name. Or it can specify the position of the file in the tree | |
1413 relative to a default directory; then it is called a @dfn{relative} | |
1414 file name. On Unix, an absolute file name starts with a slash or a | |
1415 tilde (@samp{~}), and a relative one does not. The rules on VMS are | |
1416 complicated. | |
1417 | |
1418 @defun file-name-absolute-p filename | |
1419 This function returns @code{t} if file @var{filename} is an absolute | |
1420 file name, @code{nil} otherwise. On VMS, this function understands both | |
1421 Unix syntax and VMS syntax. | |
1422 | |
1423 @example | |
1424 @group | |
1425 (file-name-absolute-p "~rms/foo") | |
1426 @result{} t | |
1427 @end group | |
1428 @group | |
1429 (file-name-absolute-p "rms/foo") | |
1430 @result{} nil | |
1431 @end group | |
1432 @group | |
1433 (file-name-absolute-p "/user/rms/foo") | |
1434 @result{} t | |
1435 @end group | |
1436 @end example | |
1437 @end defun | |
1438 | |
1439 @node File Name Expansion | |
1440 @subsection Functions that Expand Filenames | |
1441 @cindex expansion of file names | |
1442 | |
1443 @dfn{Expansion} of a file name means converting a relative file name | |
1444 to an absolute one. Since this is done relative to a default directory, | |
1445 you must specify the default directory name as well as the file name to | |
1446 be expanded. Expansion also simplifies file names by eliminating | |
1447 redundancies such as @file{./} and @file{@var{name}/../}. | |
1448 | |
1449 @defun expand-file-name filename &optional directory | |
1450 This function converts @var{filename} to an absolute file name. If | |
1451 @var{directory} is supplied, it is the directory to start with if | |
1452 @var{filename} is relative. (The value of @var{directory} should itself | |
1453 be an absolute directory name; it may start with @samp{~}.) | |
1454 Otherwise, the current buffer's value of @code{default-directory} is | |
1455 used. For example: | |
1456 | |
1457 @example | |
1458 @group | |
1459 (expand-file-name "foo") | |
1460 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/lewis/foo" | |
1461 @end group | |
1462 @group | |
1463 (expand-file-name "../foo") | |
1464 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo" | |
1465 @end group | |
1466 @group | |
1467 (expand-file-name "foo" "/usr/spool/") | |
1468 @result{} "/usr/spool/foo" | |
1469 @end group | |
1470 @group | |
1471 (expand-file-name "$HOME/foo") | |
1472 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/lewis/$HOME/foo" | |
1473 @end group | |
1474 @end example | |
1475 | |
1476 Filenames containing @samp{.} or @samp{..} are simplified to their | |
1477 canonical form: | |
1478 | |
1479 @example | |
1480 @group | |
1481 (expand-file-name "bar/../foo") | |
1482 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/lewis/foo" | |
1483 @end group | |
1484 @end example | |
1485 | |
1486 @samp{~/} is expanded into the user's home directory. A @samp{/} or | |
1487 @samp{~} following a @samp{/} is taken to be the start of an absolute | |
1488 file name that overrides what precedes it, so everything before that | |
1489 @samp{/} or @samp{~} is deleted. For example: | |
1490 | |
1491 @example | |
1492 @group | |
1493 (expand-file-name | |
1494 "/a1/gnu//usr/local/lib/emacs/etc/MACHINES") | |
1495 @result{} "/usr/local/lib/emacs/etc/MACHINES" | |
1496 @end group | |
1497 @group | |
1498 (expand-file-name "/a1/gnu/~/foo") | |
1499 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo" | |
1500 @end group | |
1501 @end example | |
1502 | |
1503 @noindent | |
1504 In both cases, @file{/a1/gnu/} is discarded because an absolute file | |
1505 name follows it. | |
1506 | |
1507 Note that @code{expand-file-name} does @emph{not} expand environment | |
1508 variables; only @code{substitute-in-file-name} does that. | |
1509 @end defun | |
1510 | |
1511 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
1512 @defun file-relative-name filename directory | |
1513 This function does the inverse of expansion---it tries to return a | |
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1514 relative name that is equivalent to @var{filename} when interpreted |
6555 | 1515 relative to @var{directory}. (If such a relative name would be longer |
1516 than the absolute name, it returns the absolute name instead.) | |
1517 | |
1518 @example | |
1519 (file-relative-name "/foo/bar" "/foo/") | |
1520 @result{} "bar") | |
1521 (file-relative-name "/foo/bar" "/hack/") | |
1522 @result{} "/foo/bar") | |
1523 @end example | |
1524 @end defun | |
1525 | |
1526 @defvar default-directory | |
1527 The value of this buffer-local variable is the default directory for the | |
1528 current buffer. It should be an absolute directory name; it may start | |
1529 with @samp{~}. This variable is local in every buffer. | |
1530 | |
1531 @code{expand-file-name} uses the default directory when its second | |
1532 argument is @code{nil}. | |
1533 | |
1534 On Unix systems, the value is always a string ending with a slash. | |
1535 | |
1536 @example | |
1537 @group | |
1538 default-directory | |
1539 @result{} "/user/lewis/manual/" | |
1540 @end group | |
1541 @end example | |
1542 @end defvar | |
1543 | |
1544 @defun substitute-in-file-name filename | |
1545 This function replaces environment variables references in | |
1546 @var{filename} with the environment variable values. Following standard | |
1547 Unix shell syntax, @samp{$} is the prefix to substitute an environment | |
1548 variable value. | |
1549 | |
1550 The environment variable name is the series of alphanumeric characters | |
1551 (including underscores) that follow the @samp{$}. If the character following | |
1552 the @samp{$} is a @samp{@{}, then the variable name is everything up to the | |
1553 matching @samp{@}}. | |
1554 | |
1555 @c Wordy to avoid overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 | |
1556 Here we assume that the environment variable @code{HOME}, which holds | |
1557 the user's home directory name, has value @samp{/xcssun/users/rms}. | |
1558 | |
1559 @example | |
1560 @group | |
1561 (substitute-in-file-name "$HOME/foo") | |
1562 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo" | |
1563 @end group | |
1564 @end example | |
1565 | |
1566 If a @samp{~} or a @samp{/} appears following a @samp{/}, after | |
1567 substitution, everything before the following @samp{/} is discarded: | |
1568 | |
1569 @example | |
1570 @group | |
1571 (substitute-in-file-name "bar/~/foo") | |
1572 @result{} "~/foo" | |
1573 @end group | |
1574 @group | |
1575 (substitute-in-file-name "/usr/local/$HOME/foo") | |
1576 @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo" | |
1577 @end group | |
1578 @end example | |
1579 | |
1580 On VMS, @samp{$} substitution is not done, so this function does nothing | |
1581 on VMS except discard superfluous initial components as shown above. | |
1582 @end defun | |
1583 | |
1584 @node Unique File Names | |
1585 @subsection Generating Unique File Names | |
1586 | |
1587 Some programs need to write temporary files. Here is the usual way to | |
1588 construct a name for such a file: | |
1589 | |
1590 @example | |
1591 (make-temp-name (concat "/tmp/" @var{name-of-application})) | |
1592 @end example | |
1593 | |
1594 @noindent | |
1595 Here we use the directory @file{/tmp/} because that is the standard | |
1596 place on Unix for temporary files. The job of @code{make-temp-name} is | |
1597 to prevent two different users or two different jobs from trying to use | |
1598 the same name. | |
1599 | |
1600 @defun make-temp-name string | |
1601 This function generates string that can be used as a unique name. The | |
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1602 name starts with @var{string}, and ends with a number that is different |
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1603 in each Emacs job. |
6555 | 1604 |
1605 @example | |
1606 @group | |
1607 (make-temp-name "/tmp/foo") | |
1608 @result{} "/tmp/foo021304" | |
1609 @end group | |
1610 @end example | |
1611 | |
1612 To prevent conflicts among different libraries running in the same | |
1613 Emacs, each Lisp program that uses @code{make-temp-name} should have its | |
1614 own @var{string}. The number added to the end of the name distinguishes | |
1615 between the same application running in different Emacs jobs. | |
1616 @end defun | |
1617 | |
1618 @node File Name Completion | |
1619 @subsection File Name Completion | |
1620 @cindex file name completion subroutines | |
1621 @cindex completion, file name | |
1622 | |
1623 This section describes low-level subroutines for completing a file | |
1624 name. For other completion functions, see @ref{Completion}. | |
1625 | |
1626 @defun file-name-all-completions partial-filename directory | |
1627 This function returns a list of all possible completions for a file | |
1628 whose name starts with @var{partial-filename} in directory | |
1629 @var{directory}. The order of the completions is the order of the files | |
1630 in the directory, which is unpredictable and conveys no useful | |
1631 information. | |
1632 | |
1633 The argument @var{partial-filename} must be a file name containing no | |
1634 directory part and no slash. The current buffer's default directory is | |
1635 prepended to @var{directory}, if @var{directory} is not absolute. | |
1636 | |
1637 In the following example, suppose that the current default directory, | |
1638 @file{~rms/lewis}, has five files whose names begin with @samp{f}: | |
1639 @file{foo}, @file{file~}, @file{file.c}, @file{file.c.~1~}, and | |
1640 @file{file.c.~2~}.@refill | |
1641 | |
1642 @example | |
1643 @group | |
1644 (file-name-all-completions "f" "") | |
1645 @result{} ("foo" "file~" "file.c.~2~" | |
1646 "file.c.~1~" "file.c") | |
1647 @end group | |
1648 | |
1649 @group | |
1650 (file-name-all-completions "fo" "") | |
1651 @result{} ("foo") | |
1652 @end group | |
1653 @end example | |
1654 @end defun | |
1655 | |
1656 @defun file-name-completion filename directory | |
1657 This function completes the file name @var{filename} in directory | |
1658 @var{directory}. It returns the longest prefix common to all file names | |
1659 in directory @var{directory} that start with @var{filename}. | |
1660 | |
1661 If only one match exists and @var{filename} matches it exactly, the | |
1662 function returns @code{t}. The function returns @code{nil} if directory | |
1663 @var{directory} contains no name starting with @var{filename}. | |
1664 | |
1665 In the following example, suppose that the current default directory | |
1666 has five files whose names begin with @samp{f}: @file{foo}, | |
1667 @file{file~}, @file{file.c}, @file{file.c.~1~}, and | |
1668 @file{file.c.~2~}.@refill | |
1669 | |
1670 @example | |
1671 @group | |
1672 (file-name-completion "fi" "") | |
1673 @result{} "file" | |
1674 @end group | |
1675 | |
1676 @group | |
1677 (file-name-completion "file.c.~1" "") | |
1678 @result{} "file.c.~1~" | |
1679 @end group | |
1680 | |
1681 @group | |
1682 (file-name-completion "file.c.~1~" "") | |
1683 @result{} t | |
1684 @end group | |
1685 | |
1686 @group | |
1687 (file-name-completion "file.c.~3" "") | |
1688 @result{} nil | |
1689 @end group | |
1690 @end example | |
1691 @end defun | |
1692 | |
1693 @defopt completion-ignored-extensions | |
1694 @code{file-name-completion} usually ignores file names that end in any | |
1695 string in this list. It does not ignore them when all the possible | |
1696 completions end in one of these suffixes or when a buffer showing all | |
1697 possible completions is displayed.@refill | |
1698 | |
1699 A typical value might look like this: | |
1700 | |
1701 @example | |
1702 @group | |
1703 completion-ignored-extensions | |
1704 @result{} (".o" ".elc" "~" ".dvi") | |
1705 @end group | |
1706 @end example | |
1707 @end defopt | |
1708 | |
1709 @node Contents of Directories | |
1710 @section Contents of Directories | |
1711 @cindex directory-oriented functions | |
1712 @cindex file names in directory | |
1713 | |
1714 A directory is a kind of file that contains other files entered under | |
1715 various names. Directories are a feature of the file system. | |
1716 | |
1717 Emacs can list the names of the files in a directory as a Lisp list, | |
1718 or display the names in a buffer using the @code{ls} shell command. In | |
1719 the latter case, it can optionally display information about each file, | |
1720 depending on the options passed to the @code{ls} command. | |
1721 | |
1722 @defun directory-files directory &optional full-name match-regexp nosort | |
1723 This function returns a list of the names of the files in the directory | |
1724 @var{directory}. By default, the list is in alphabetical order. | |
1725 | |
1726 If @var{full-name} is non-@code{nil}, the function returns the files' | |
1727 absolute file names. Otherwise, it returns the names relative to | |
1728 the specified directory. | |
1729 | |
1730 If @var{match-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, this function returns only | |
1731 those file names that contain a match for that regular expression---the | |
1732 other file names are excluded from the list. | |
1733 | |
1734 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
1735 If @var{nosort} is non-@code{nil}, @code{directory-files} does not sort | |
1736 the list, so you get the file names in no particular order. Use this if | |
1737 you want the utmost possible speed and don't care what order the files | |
1738 are processed in. If the order of processing is visible to the user, | |
1739 then the user will probably be happier if you do sort the names. | |
1740 | |
1741 @example | |
1742 @group | |
1743 (directory-files "~lewis") | |
1744 @result{} ("#foo#" "#foo.el#" "." ".." | |
1745 "dired-mods.el" "files.texi" | |
1746 "files.texi.~1~") | |
1747 @end group | |
1748 @end example | |
1749 | |
1750 An error is signaled if @var{directory} is not the name of a directory | |
1751 that can be read. | |
1752 @end defun | |
1753 | |
1754 @defun file-name-all-versions file dirname | |
1755 This function returns a list of all versions of the file named | |
1756 @var{file} in directory @var{dirname}. | |
1757 @end defun | |
1758 | |
1759 @defun insert-directory file switches &optional wildcard full-directory-p | |
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1760 This function inserts (in the current buffer) a directory listing for |
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1761 directory @var{file}, formatted with @code{ls} according to |
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1762 @var{switches}. It leaves point after the inserted text. |
6555 | 1763 |
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1764 The argument @var{file} may be either a directory name or a file |
6555 | 1765 specification including wildcard characters. If @var{wildcard} is |
1766 non-@code{nil}, that means treat @var{file} as a file specification with | |
1767 wildcards. | |
1768 | |
1769 If @var{full-directory-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means @var{file} is a | |
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1770 directory and switches do not contain @samp{-d}, so that the listing |
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1771 should show the full contents of the directory. (The @samp{-d} option |
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1772 to @code{ls} says to describe a directory itself rather than its |
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1773 contents.) |
6555 | 1774 |
1775 This function works by running a directory listing program whose name is | |
1776 in the variable @code{insert-directory-program}. If @var{wildcard} is | |
1777 non-@code{nil}, it also runs the shell specified by | |
1778 @code{shell-file-name}, to expand the wildcards. | |
1779 @end defun | |
1780 | |
1781 @defvar insert-directory-program | |
1782 This variable's value is the program to run to generate a directory listing | |
1783 for the function @code{insert-directory}. | |
1784 @end defvar | |
1785 | |
1786 @node Create/Delete Dirs | |
1787 @section Creating and Deleting Directories | |
1788 @c Emacs 19 features | |
1789 | |
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1790 Most Emacs Lisp file-manipulation functions get errors when used on |
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1791 files that are directories. For example, you cannot delete a directory |
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1792 with @code{delete-file}. These special functions exist to create and |
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1793 delete directories. |
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1794 |
6555 | 1795 @defun make-directory dirname |
1796 This function creates a directory named @var{dirname}. | |
1797 @end defun | |
1798 | |
1799 @defun delete-directory dirname | |
1800 This function deletes the directory named @var{dirname}. The function | |
1801 @code{delete-file} does not work for files that are directories; you | |
1802 must use @code{delete-directory} in that case. | |
1803 @end defun | |
1804 | |
1805 @node Magic File Names | |
1806 @section Making Certain File Names ``Magic'' | |
1807 @cindex magic file names | |
1808 | |
1809 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
1810 You can implement special handling for certain file names. This is | |
1811 called making those names @dfn{magic}. You must supply a regular | |
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1812 expression to define the class of names (all those that match the |
6555 | 1813 regular expression), plus a handler that implements all the primitive |
1814 Emacs file operations for file names that do match. | |
1815 | |
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1816 The variable @code{file-name-handler-alist} holds a list of handlers, |
6555 | 1817 together with regular expressions that determine when to apply each |
1818 handler. Each element has this form: | |
1819 | |
1820 @example | |
1821 (@var{regexp} . @var{handler}) | |
1822 @end example | |
1823 | |
1824 @noindent | |
1825 All the Emacs primitives for file access and file name transformation | |
1826 check the given file name against @code{file-name-handler-alist}. If | |
1827 the file name matches @var{regexp}, the primitives handle that file by | |
1828 calling @var{handler}. | |
1829 | |
1830 The first argument given to @var{handler} is the name of the primitive; | |
1831 the remaining arguments are the arguments that were passed to that | |
1832 operation. (The first of these arguments is typically the file name | |
1833 itself.) For example, if you do this: | |
1834 | |
1835 @example | |
1836 (file-exists-p @var{filename}) | |
1837 @end example | |
1838 | |
1839 @noindent | |
1840 and @var{filename} has handler @var{handler}, then @var{handler} is | |
1841 called like this: | |
1842 | |
1843 @example | |
1844 (funcall @var{handler} 'file-exists-p @var{filename}) | |
1845 @end example | |
1846 | |
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1847 Here are the operations that a magic file name handler gets to handle: |
6555 | 1848 |
1849 @noindent | |
1850 @code{add-name-to-file}, @code{copy-file}, @code{delete-directory}, | |
1851 @code{delete-file},@* | |
1852 @code{directory-file-name}, | |
1853 @code{diff-latest-backup-file}, @code{directory-files}, | |
1854 @code{dired-compress-file}, @code{dired-uncache}, | |
1855 @code{expand-file-name},@* | |
1856 @code{file-accessible-directory-p}, | |
1857 @code{file-attributes}, @code{file-directory-p}, | |
1858 @code{file-executable-p}, @code{file-exists-p}, @code{file-local-copy}, | |
1859 @code{file-modes}, @code{file-name-all-completions}, | |
1860 @code{file-name-as-directory}, @code{file-name-completion}, | |
1861 @code{file-name-directory}, @code{file-name-nondirectory}, | |
1862 @code{file-name-sans-versions}, @code{file-newer-than-file-p}, | |
1863 @code{file-readable-p}, @code{file-symlink-p}, @code{file-truename}, | |
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1864 @code{file-writable-p}, @code{insert-directory},@* |
6555 | 1865 @code{insert-file-contents}, @code{load}, @code{make-directory}, |
1866 @code{make-symbolic-link}, @code{rename-file}, @code{set-file-modes}, | |
1867 @code{set-visited-file-modtime}, @code{unhandled-file-name-directory}, | |
1868 @code{verify-visited-file-modtime}, @code{write-region}. | |
1869 | |
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1870 Handlers for @code{insert-file-contents} typically need to clear the |
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1871 buffer's modified flag, with @code{(set-buffer-modified-p nil)}, if the |
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1872 @var{visit} argument is non-@code{nil}. This also has the effect of |
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1873 unlocking the buffer if it is locked. |
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1874 |
6555 | 1875 The handler function must handle all of the above operations, and |
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1876 possibly others to be added in the future. It need not implement all |
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1877 these operations itself---when it has nothing special to do for a |
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1878 certain operation, it can reinvoke the primitive, to handle the |
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1879 operation ``in the usual way''. It should always reinvoke the primitive |
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1880 for an operation it does not recognize. Here's one way to do this: |
6555 | 1881 |
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1882 @smallexample |
6555 | 1883 (defun my-file-handler (operation &rest args) |
1884 ;; @r{First check for the specific operations} | |
1885 ;; @r{that we have special handling for.} | |
1886 (cond ((eq operation 'insert-file-contents) @dots{}) | |
1887 ((eq operation 'write-region) @dots{}) | |
1888 @dots{} | |
1889 ;; @r{Handle any operation we don't know about.} | |
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1890 (t (let ((inhibit-file-name-handlers |
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1891 (cons 'my-file-handler |
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1892 (and (eq inhibit-file-name-operation operation) |
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1893 inhibit-file-name-handlers))) |
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1894 (inhibit-file-name-operation operation)) |
6555 | 1895 (apply operation args))))) |
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1896 @end smallexample |
6555 | 1897 |
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1898 When a handler function decides to call the ordinary Emacs primitive for |
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1899 the operation at hand, it needs to prevent the primitive from calling |
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1900 the same handler once again, thus leading to an infinite recursion. The |
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1901 example above shows how to do this, with the variables |
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1902 @code{inhibit-file-name-handlers} and |
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1903 @code{inhibit-file-name-operation}. Be careful to use them exactly as |
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1904 shown above; the details are crucial for proper behavior in the case of |
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1905 multiple handlers, and for operations that have two file names that may |
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1906 each have handlers. |
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1907 |
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1908 @defvar inhibit-file-name-handlers |
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1909 This variable holds a list of handlers whose use is presently inhibited |
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1910 for a certain operation. |
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1911 @end defvar |
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1912 |
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1913 @defvar inhibit-file-name-operation |
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1914 The operation for which certain handlers are presently inhibited. |
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1915 @end defvar |
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1916 |
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1917 @defun find-file-name-handler file operation |
6555 | 1918 This function returns the handler function for file name @var{file}, or |
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1919 @code{nil} if there is none. The argument @var{operation} should be the |
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1920 operation to be performed on the file---the value you will pass to the |
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1921 handler as its first argument when you call it. The operation is needed |
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1922 for comparison with @code{inhibit-file-name-operation}. |
6555 | 1923 @end defun |
1924 | |
1925 @defun file-local-copy filename | |
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1926 This function copies file @var{filename} to an ordinary non-magic file, |
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1927 if it isn't one already. |
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1928 |
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1929 If @var{filename} specifies a ``magic'' file name, which programs |
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1930 outside Emacs cannot directly read or write, this copies the contents to |
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1931 an ordinary file and returns that file's name. |
6555 | 1932 |
1933 If @var{filename} is an ordinary file name, not magic, then this function | |
1934 does nothing and returns @code{nil}. | |
1935 @end defun | |
1936 | |
1937 @defun unhandled-file-name-directory filename | |
1938 This function returns the name of a directory that is not magic. | |
1939 It uses the directory part of @var{filename} if that is not magic. | |
1940 Otherwise, it asks the handler what to do. | |
1941 | |
1942 This is useful for running a subprocess; every subprocess must have a | |
1943 non-magic directory to serve as its current directory, and this function | |
1944 is a good way to come up with one. | |
1945 @end defun | |
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1946 |
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1947 @node Files and MS-DOS |
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1948 @section Files and MS-DOS |
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1949 @cindex MS-DOS file types |
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1950 @cindex file types on MS-DOS |
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1951 @cindex text files and binary files |
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1952 @cindex binary files and text files |
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1953 |
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1954 Emacs on MS-DOS makes a distinction between text files and binary |
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1955 files. This is necessary because ordinary text files on MS-DOS use a |
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1956 two character sequence between lines: carriage-return and linefeed |
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1957 (CRLF). Emacs expects just a newline character (a linefeed) between |
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1958 lines. When Emacs reads or writes a text file on MS-DOS, it needs to |
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1959 convert the line separators. This means it needs to know which files |
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1960 are text files and which are binary. It makes this decision when |
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1961 visiting a file, and records the decision in the variable |
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1962 @code{buffer-file-type} for use when the file is saved. |
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1963 |
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1964 @xref{MS-DOS Subprocesses}, for a related feature for subprocesses. |
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1965 |
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1966 @defvar buffer-file-type |
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1967 This variable, automatically local in each buffer, records the file type |
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1968 of the buffer's visited file. The value is @code{nil} for text, |
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1969 @code{t} for binary. |
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1970 @end defvar |
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1971 |
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1972 @defun find-buffer-file-type filename |
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1973 This function determines whether file @var{filename} is a text file |
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1974 or a binary file. It returns @code{nil} for text, @code{t} for binary. |
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1975 @end defun |
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1976 |
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1977 @defopt file-name-buffer-file-type-alist |
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1978 This variable holds an alist for distinguishing text files from binary |
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1979 files. Each element has the form (@var{regexp} . @var{type}), where |
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1980 @var{regexp} is matched against the file name, and @var{type} may be is |
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1981 @code{nil} for text, @code{t} for binary, or a function to call to |
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1982 compute which. If it is a function, then it is called with a single |
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1983 argument (the file name) and should return @code{t} or @code{nil}. |
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1984 @end defopt |
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1985 |
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1986 @defopt default-buffer-file-type |
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1987 This variable specifies the default file type for files whose names |
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1988 don't indicate anything in particular. Its value should be @code{nil} |
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1989 for text, or @code{t} for binary. |
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1990 @end defopt |
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1991 |
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1992 @deffn Command find-file-text filename |
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1993 Like @code{find-file}, but treat the file as text regardless of its name. |
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1994 @end deffn |
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1995 |
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1996 @deffn Command find-file-binary filename |
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1997 Like @code{find-file}, but treat the file as binary regardless of its |
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1998 name. |
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1999 @end deffn |