Re: [boost] [filesystem] possible bug in exists(path const &)

From: Beman Dawes (bdawes_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-09-29 19:18:02

At 11:49 AM 9/29/2004, Angus Leeming wrote:
 >Beman,
 >
 >I notice that the Windows implementation of exists() contains the line:
 >
 >      if(::GetFileAttributesA( ph.string().c_str() ) == 0xFFFFFFFF)
 >
 >This contrasts with
 >
 >      DWORD attributes = ::GetFileAttributesA(
 >          ph.native_directory_string().c_str() );
 >
 >in is_directory(). I wonder if there are any implications in using
 >string() as opposed to native_file_string() here? It does appear that
 >in most places you prefer to use the "native_" flavour when invoking
 >system functions.

Because Windows treats '\' and '/' as equivalent in paths, and uses the 
same syntax for file and directory paths, there is no functional difference 
in the two forms.

For coding consistency, it might be better to use the "native_" 
functions.   But since we don't know if a file or directory is involved, 
I'm inclined to favor the code as it now stands.

Thanks,

--Beman