FileExist ( and other ) strange behavior

[Terenz]

Someone can explain me why with dots the path change and it's considered the "level up" path? In the help i don't have found nothing about this:

ConsoleWrite(FileExists("C:\.") & @CR)
ConsoleWrite(FileExists(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..") & @CR)

Local $search = FileFindFirstFile(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..")

; Check if the search was successful
If $search = -1 Then
    MsgBox(0, "Error", "No files/directories matched the search pattern")
    Exit
EndIf

While 1
    Local $file = FileFindNextFile($search)
    If @error Then ExitLoop

    MsgBox(4096, "File:", $file)
WEnd

; Close the search handle
FileClose($search)

The result of the search is "All Users"

Edited November 27, 2014 by Terenz

[jguinch]

You must specify a filter :

Local $search = FileFindFirstFile(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..\*.*")

[TheSaint]

The dot thing stems from the days of DOS, where a single dot and backslash meant use current folder, whereas two dots meant use parent folder of current folder, and three dots (with another backslash after first dot) meant use the parent folder of that folder, and so on.

However, as jguinch wrote, you need the wildcard filter of asterisks (*.*), and not more than one dot usually.

The first asterisk, designates any file name in specified directory, while the second asterisk designates any file extension.

If you only wanted a specific extension, like .txt, then you would use (*.txt) to get all text files in specified directory.

Local $search = FileFindFirstFile(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..\*.txt")

[Terenz]

Maybe i wasn't clear, why we have this "dots" feature? Why there isn't any trace in the help? In my point of view FileExist with a folder with dots at the end need to return 0 and not 1, just for make an example, and not check if parent folder exist or not.

[jchd]

This "feature" has been in DOS/Windows for too long to be changed now and many functions in AutoIt merely wrap Windows API. The help is about AutoIt, it isn't a Windows summary.

[TheSaint]

jchd is completely right, and your use in OP is not standard.

In fact, I'd go as far as saying it is incorrect use, though obviously you can get away with it to some degree.

Perhaps you should have used

Local $search = FileFindFirstFile(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..\*")

or

Local $search = FileFindFirstFile(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\..\*.*")

I don't know though, because I've never tried either.

Edited November 27, 2014 by TheSaint