Conference noted::hackers_v1

654.0. "partial-filespec -> full-filespec help" by FOO::BHAVNANI (When in doubt, blame the compiler.) Wed Jan 07 1987 22:57

 I'm  looking  for  a LIB$/SYS$ routine that will return a full filespec from a
 partial one.  Something along the lines of

		gets (filename);
		if ((infile=fopen(filename,"r"))==NULL)
		   {
		     lib$return_full_filespec (filename, fullname);
		     printf ("Error opening %s; as input\n", fullname);
		   }

 such that if the user enters "[--.xyzzy]foo.bar" for filename, and his default 
 directory is "user$disk:[jdoe.test]", my application will say

		Error opening USER$DISK:[XYZZY]FOO.BAR; as input

 I  can  do this using fgetname() if the file *was* opened successfully, but am
 having  a  hard time expanding the filespec when I can't access the file.  Any
 pointers or source code examples :-) would be appreciated.  Tnx much,

 /ravi

    I could be wrong but I seem to remember that the routine LIB$FIND_FILE
    when given a wildcard in the file-spec field returns the full file
    specification in the result-spec(if any) field.
    
    � J.

    I believe that if you use the RMS service $PARSE with a
    modifier of FAB$M_OFP (output file parse) and specify an
    expanded string buffer, the expanded string returned will be
    what you're after.
    
    	- Lee