wrong directory separator

wrong directory separator

[Katsumi Yamaoka]

Hi,

Someone reported that the nnml-generate-nov-databases command
causes a terrible problem by the new variable
nnheader-directory-separator-character.  The default value for
the variable is the backslash character (i.e., ?\\) for many
non-UNIX systems; windows-nt, os/2, emx, and cygwin.

However, the reporter uses Meadow 1.15 (based on Emacs 20.7
under Win32), system-type is windows-nt, and the slash character
is used as a directory separator in Emacs Lisp expressions.

When he ran the nnml-generate-nov-databases command, a new group
"foo/bar" (not "foo.bar") was created from the existent
directory "~/Mail/foo/bar/", and such an illegal group name was
saved in the ~/Mail/active file and the ~/.newsrc.eld file.  To
make matters worse, he said that the new directory "foo_bar" was
also created for saving the .marks file there.

The root cause of the problem is the default value for the
nnheader-directory-separator-character variable.  Since I'm not
using M$ Windoze so much, I don't know whether there are any
versions of Emacsen using the backslash character in the
expand-file-name function as follows:

(let ((default-directory "."))
  (expand-file-name "bar" "foo"))
 => ".\\foo\\bar"

Any ideas?
-- 
Katsumi Yamaoka <yamaoka@jpl.org>

Re: wrong directory separator

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Katsumi Yamaoka <yamaoka@jpl.org> writes:

> The root cause of the problem is the default value for the
> nnheader-directory-separator-character variable.  Since I'm not
> using M$ Windoze so much, I don't know whether there are any
> versions of Emacsen using the backslash character in the
> expand-file-name function as follows:
>
> (let ((default-directory "."))
>   (expand-file-name "bar" "foo"))
>  => ".\\foo\\bar"
>
> Any ideas?

The reason I introduced that variable was because a Windows user
reported that generating the active file for nnml created groups that
were named "some\\thing".  Letting
`nnheader-directory-separator-character' be ?\ apparently fixed his
problem.

But perhaps there's a different way to compute this variable that
will get this right on all Windoses/Emacsens?  For instance -- we
could eval the following and see what character number 2 is:

(let ((default-directory "."))
  (expand-file-name "foo"))

But I'm not familiar with the mysteries of Windows at all, so I don't
know... 

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   larsi@gnus.org * Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen

Re: wrong directory separator

[Katsumi Yamaoka]

>>>>> In <m3adhgaq9j.fsf@quimbies.gnus.org> 
>>>>>	Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org> wrote:

> Katsumi Yamaoka <yamaoka@jpl.org> writes:

>> The root cause of the problem is the default value for the
>> nnheader-directory-separator-character variable.

[...]

I've practically tested XEmacs 21.4.11 on Windows just now, and
confirmed that the backslash character is used even in Emacs
Lisp expressions.  For example:

(file-name-as-directory "")
 => ".\\"

Lars> The reason I introduced that variable was because a Windows user
Lars> reported that generating the active file for nnml created groups that
Lars> were named "some\\thing".  Letting
Lars> `nnheader-directory-separator-character' be ?\ apparently fixed his
Lars> problem.

I believe you and the reporter.  However, all Emacsen on Windows
don't use the backslash character for a directory separator.

Lars> But perhaps there's a different way to compute this variable that
Lars> will get this right on all Windoses/Emacsens?  For instance -- we
Lars> could eval the following and see what character number 2 is:

Lars> (let ((default-directory "."))
Lars>   (expand-file-name "foo"))

Lars> But I'm not familiar with the mysteries of Windows at all, so I don't
Lars> know... 

I think that's a good idea.  I've just changed the way to
determine the default value for
`nnheader-directory-separator-character' in the CVS repository.
-- 
Katsumi Yamaoka <yamaoka@jpl.org>

Re: wrong directory separator

[Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen]

Katsumi Yamaoka <yamaoka@jpl.org> writes:

> I think that's a good idea.  I've just changed the way to
> determine the default value for
> `nnheader-directory-separator-character' in the CVS repository.

Great!

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   larsi@gnus.org * Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen