1File::SearchPath(3) User Contributed Perl Documentation File::SearchPath(3)
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6 File::SearchPath - Search for a file in an environment variable path
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9 use File::SearchPath qw/ searchpath /;
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11 $file = searchpath( 'libperl.a', env => 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH' );
12 $file = searchpath( 'my.cfg', env => 'CFG_DIR', subdir => 'ME' );
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14 $path = searchpath( $file, env => 'PATH', exe => 1 );
15 $path = searchpath( $file, env => 'PATH', dir => 1 );
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17 $file = searchpath( 'ls', $ENV{PATH} );
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19 $exe = searchpath( 'ls' );
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22 This module provides the ability to search a path-like environment
23 variable for a file (that does not necessarily have to be an
24 executable).
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27 The following functions can be exported by this module.
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29 searchpath
30 This is the core function. The only mandatory argument is the name
31 of a file to be located. The filename should not be absolute
32 although it can include directory specifications.
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34 $path = searchpath( $file );
35 @matches = searchpath( $file );
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37 If only two arguments are provided, it is assumed that the second
38 argument is a path-like string. This interface is provided for
39 backwards compatibility with "File::SearchPath" version 0.01. It is
40 not as portable as specifying the name of the environment variable.
41 Note also that no specific attempt will be made to check whether
42 the file is executable when the subroutine is called in this way.
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44 $path = searchpath( $file, $ENV{PATH} );
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46 By default, this will search in $PATH for executable files and is
47 equivalent to:
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49 $path = searchpath( $file, env => 'PATH', exe => 0 );
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51 Hash-like options can be used to alter the behaviour of the search:
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53 env Name of the environment variable to use as a starting point
54 for the search. Should be a path-like environment variable
55 such as $PATH, $LD_LIBRARY_PATH etc. Defaults to $PATH. An
56 error occurs if the environment variable is not set or not
57 defined. If it is defined but contains a blank string, the
58 current directory will be assumed.
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60 exe If true, only executable files will be located in the
61 search path. If $PATH is being searched, the default is
62 for this to be true. For all other environment variables
63 the default is false. If "dir" option is specified "exe"
64 will always default to false.
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66 dir If true, only directories will be located in the search
67 path. Default is false. "dir" and "exe" are not allowed to
68 be true in the same call. (triggering a croak() on error).
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70 subdir If you know that your file is in a subdirectory of the path
71 described by the environment variable, this direcotry can
72 be specified here. Alternatively, the path can be included
73 in the file name itself.
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75 In scalar context the first match is returned. In list context all
76 matches are returned in the order corresponding to the directories
77 listed in the environment variable.
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79 Returns undef (or empty list) if no match could be found.
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81 If an absolute file name is provided, that filename is returned if
82 it exists and is readable, else undef is returned.
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85 "File::SearchPath" used to exist on CPAN (now on backpan) and was
86 written by Robert Spier. This version is completely new but retains an
87 interface that is compatible with Robert's version. Thanks to Robert
88 for allowing me to reuse this module name.
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91 If "Env::Path" module is installed it will be used. This allows for
92 more flexibility than simply assuming colon-separated paths.
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95 Env::Path, File::Which, File::Find, File::Find::Run, File::Where.
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98 Tim Jenness <tjenness@cpan.org>
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100 Copyright (C) 2005,2006, 2008 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research
101 Council. Copyright (C) 2009-2010 Science and Technology Facilities
102 Council. Copyright (C) 2015 Tim Jenness All Rights Reserved.
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104 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
105 under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
106 Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
107 option) any later version.
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109 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,but
110 WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
111 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
112 General Public License for more details.
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114 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
115 with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
116 59 Temple Place,Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA
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120perl v5.32.1 2021-01-27 File::SearchPath(3)