The layout of the Manual

What File::Util Is

File::Util is mainly Object-Oriented Perl, but strives to be gentle and accommodating to those who do not know about or who do not like "OO" interfaces. As such, many of the object methods available in File::Util can also be imported into your namespace and used like regular subroutines to make short work of simple tasks.

For more advanced tasks and features, you will need to use File::Util's object-oriented interface. Don't worry, it's easy, and there are plenty of examples here in the documentation to get you off to a great and productive start. If you run into trouble, help is available.

File::Util tries its best to adhere to these guiding principles:

Be easy

Make hard things easier and safer to do while avoiding common mistakes associated with file handling in Perl. Code using File::Util will automatically be abiding by best practices with regard to Perl IO.

File::Util makes the right decisions for you with regard to all the little details involved in the vast majority of file-related tasks. File locking is automatically performed for you! File handles are always lexically scoped. Safe reads and writes are performed with hard limits on the amount of RAM you are allowed to consume in your process per file read. (You can adjust the limits.)

Be portable

We make sure that File::Util is going to work on your computer or virtual machine. If you run Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD, some flavor of Unix, etc... File::Util should work right out of the box. There are currently no platforms where Perl runs that we do not support. If Perl can run on it, File::Util can run on it. If you want unicode support, however, you need to at least be running Perl 5.8 or better.

Be compatible

File::Util has been around for a long time, and so has Perl. We'd like to think that this is because they are good things! This means there is a lot of backward-compatibility to account for, even within File::Util itself.

In the last several years, there has never been a release of File::Util that intentionally broke code running a previous version. We are unaware of that even happening. File::Util is written to support both old and new features, syntaxes, and interfaces with full backward-compatibility.

Be helpful

If requested, File::Util outputs extremely detailed error messages when something goes wrong in a File::Util operation. The diagnostic error messages not only provide information about what went wrong, but also hints on how to fix the problem.

These error messages can easily be turned on and off. See DIAGNOSTICS for the details.

Be Pure

File::Util uses no XS or C underpinnings that require you to have a compiler or make utility on your system in order to use it. Simply follow standard installation procedures (INSTALLATION) and you're done. No compiling required.

What File::Util Is NOT

However File::Util is NOT a single-purpose file-finding/searching utility like File::Find::Rule which offers a handful of extra built-in search features that File::Util does not give you out of the box, such as searching for files by owner/group or size. It is possible to accomplish the same things by taking advantage of File::Util's callbacks if you want to, but this isn't the "one thing" File::Util was built to do.

*Sometimes it doesn't matter how fast you can search through a directory 1000 times. Performance alone isn't the best criteria for choosing a module.

OLD Syntax Example

   # this legacy syntax looks clunky and kind of smells like shell script
   $f->list_dir( '/some/dir', '--recurse', '--as-ref', '--pattern=[^\d]' );

NEW Syntax Example (Does Much More)

   # This syntax is much more robust, and supports new features
   $f->list_dir(
      '/some/dir' => {
         files_match    => { or  => [ qr/bender$/, qr/^flexo/   ] },
         parent_matches => { and => [ qr/^Planet/, qr/Express$/ ] },
         callback       => \&deliver_interstellar_shipment,
         files_only     => 1,
         recurse        => 1,
         as_ref         => 1,
      }
   )

If you already have code that uses the old syntax, DON'T WORRY -- it's still fully supported behind the scenes. However, for new code that takes advantage of new features like higher order functions (callbacks), or advanced matching for directory listings, you'll need to use the syntax as set forth in this document. The old syntax isn't covered here, because you shouldn't use it anymore.

An Explanation Of The "Options Hashref"

As shown in the code example above, the new syntax uses hash references to specify options for calls to File::Util methods. This documentation refers to these as the "options hashref". The code examples below illustrates what they are and how they are used. Advanced Perl programmers will recognize these right away.

NOTE: "hashref" is short for "hash reference". Hash references use curly brackets and look like this:

   my $hashref = { name => 'Larry', language => 'Perl', pet => 'Velociraptor' };

File::Util uses these hash references as argument modifiers that allow you to enable or disable certain features or behaviors, so you get the output you want, like this:

   my $result = $ftl->some_method_call( arg1, arg2, { options hashref } );
                                                    # ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ #

A couple of real examples would look like this:

   $ftl->write_file( '/some/file.txt', 'Hello World!', { mode => 'append' } );
                                                       # ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ #

   $ftl->list_dir( '/home/dangerian' => { recurse => 1, files_only => 1 } );
                                        # ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ #

Feature Summary

As an added convenience, when you use this option with the File::Util constructor method, it sets the default error handling policy for all failures; in other words, you can set up one error handler for everything and never have to worry about it after that.

   # Set every error to cause a warning instead of dying by default
   my $ftl = File::Util->new( { onfail => 'warn' } );

   $ftl->write_file( 'C:\\' => 'woof!' ); # now this call will warn and not die

Details

keyword: "die"

This is what File::Util already does: it calls "CORE::die()" with an error message when it encounters a fatal error, and your program terminates.

Example:

   my $ftl = File::Util->new( ... { onfail => 'die' } );
    

keyword: "zero"

When you use the predefined "zero" behavior as the "onfail" handler, File::Util will return a zero value (the integer 0) if it encounters a fatal error, instead of dying. File::Util won't warn about the error or abort execution. You will just get a zero back instead of what you would have gotten otherwise, and execution will continue as if no error happened.

Example:

   my $content = File::Util->load_file( ... { onfail => 'zero' } );
    

keyword: "undefined"

When you use the predefined "undefined" behavior as the "onfail" handler, if File::Util runs into a fatal error it will return "undef". Execution will not be aborted, and no warnings will be issued. A value of undef will just get sent back to the caller instead of what you would have gotten otherwise. Execution will then continue on as if no error happened.

Note: This option usually makes more practical sense than "onfail => 'zero'"

Example:

   my $handle = File::Util->open_handle( ... { onfail => 'undefined' } );
    

keyword: "warn"

When you use the predefined "warn" behavior as the "onfail" handler, File::Util will return "undef" if it encounters a fatal error, instead of dying. Then File::Util will emit a warning with details about the error, but will not abort execution. You will just get a warning message sent to STDERR and "undef" gets sent back to the caller instead of what you would have gotten otherwise. Other than the warning, execution will continue as if no error ever happened.

Example:

   my $write_ok = File::Util->write_file( ... { onfail => 'warn' } );
    

keyword: "message"

When you use the predefined "message" behavior as the "onfail" handler, if File::Util runs into a fatal error it will return an error message in the form of a string containing details about the problem. Execution will not be aborted, and no warnings will be issued. You will just get an error message sent back to the caller instead of what you would have gotten otherwise. Execution will then continue on as if no error happened.

Example:

   my @files = File::Util->list_dir( ... { onfail => 'message' } );
    

"subroutine reference"

If you supply a code reference to the "onfail" option in a File::Util method call, it will execute that code if it encounters a fatal error. You must supply a true code reference, as shown in the examples below, either to a named or anonymous subroutine.

The subroutine you specify will receive two arguments as its input in "@_". The first will be the text of the error message, and the second will be a stack trace in text format. You can send them to a logger, to your sysadmin in an email alert, or whatever you like-- because it is *your* error handler.

WARNING! If you do not call "die" or "exit" at the end of your error handler, File::Util will NOT exit, but continue to execute. When you opt to use this feature, you are fully responsible for your process' error handling and post-error execution.

Examples using the constructor:

   # step 1) define your custom error handler
   sub politician_error_handler {

      my ( $err, $stack ) = @_;

      # do stuff like ...

      $logger->debug( $stack );

      die 'We neither confirm nor deny that an IO error has happened.';
   }

   # step 2) apply your error handler
   my $ftl = File::Util->new( { onfail => \&politician_error_handler } );

      -OR-

   # Define and apply your error handler in one step:

   my $ftl = File::Util->new(
      {
         onfail => sub {
            my ( $err, $stack ) = @_;

            # do stuff ...
         }
      }
   );
    

Examples in individual method calls:

   $ftl->write_file( 'greedo' => 'try bargain' => { onfail => \&shoot_first } );

   my $file_handle = $ftl->open_handle(
      '/this/might/not/work' => {
         onfail => sub {
            warn "Couldn't open first choice, trying a backup plan...";
            return $ftl->open_handle( '/this/one/should/work' );
         }
      }
   );
    

"atomize_path"

Syntax: "atomize_path( [/file/path or file_name] )"

This method is used internally by File::Util to handle absolute filenames on different platforms in a portable manner, but it can be a useful tool for you as well.

This method takes a single string as its argument. The string is expected to be a fully-qualified (absolute) or relative path to a file or directory. It carefully splits the string into three parts: The root of the path, the rest of the path, and the final file/directory named in the string.

Depending on the input, the root and/or path may be empty strings. The following table can serve as a guide in what to expect from "atomize_path()"

   +-------------------------+----------+--------------------+----------------+
   |  INPUT                  |   ROOT   |   PATH-COMPONENT   |   FILE/DIR     |
   +-------------------------+----------+--------------------+----------------+
   |  C:\foo\bar\baz.txt     |   C:\    |   foo\bar          |   baz.txt      |
   |  /foo/bar/baz.txt       |   /      |   foo/bar          |   baz.txt      |
   |  ./a/b/c/d/e/f/g.txt    |          |   ./a/b/c/d/e/f    |   g.txt        |
   |  :a:b:c:d:e:f:g.txt     |   :      |   a:b:c:d:e:f      |   g.txt        |
   |  ../wibble/wombat.ini   |          |   ../wibble        |   wombat.ini   |
   |  ..\woot\noot.doc       |          |   ..\woot          |   noot.doc     |
   |  ../../zoot.conf        |          |   ../..            |   zoot.conf    |
   |  /root                  |   /      |                    |   root         |
   |  /etc/sudoers           |   /      |   etc              |   sudoers      |
   |  /                      |   /      |                    |                |
   |  D:\                    |   D:\    |                    |                |
   |  D:\autorun.inf         |   D:\    |                    |   autorun.inf  |
   +-------------------------+----------+--------------------+----------------+
    

"bitmask"

Syntax: "bitmask( [file name] )"

Gets the bitmask of the named file, provided the file exists. If the file exists and is accessible, the bitmask of the named file is returned in four digit octal notation e.g.- 0644. Otherwise, returns "undef" if the file does not exist or could not be accessed.

"can_flock"

Syntax: "can_flock"

Returns 1 if the current system claims to support "flock()" and if the Perl process can successfully call it. (see "flock" in perlfunc.) Unless both of these conditions are true, a zero value (0) is returned. This is a constant method. It accepts no arguments and will always return the same value for the system on which it is executed.

Note: Perl tries to support or emulate flock whenever it can via available system calls, namely "flock"; "lockf"; or with "fcntl".

"created"

Syntax: "created( [file name] )"

Returns the time of creation for the named file in non-leap seconds since whatever your system considers to be the epoch. Suitable for feeding to Perl's built-in functions "gmtime" and "localtime". (see "time" in perlfunc.)

"diagnostic"

Syntax: "diagnostic( [true / false value] )"

When called without any arguments, this method returns a true or false value to reflect the current setting for the use of diagnostic (verbose) error messages when a File::Util object encounters errors.

When called with a true or false value as its single argument, this tells the File::Util object whether or not it should enable diagnostic error messages in the event of a failure. A true value indicates that the File::Util object will enable diagnostic mode, and a false value indicates that it will not. The default setting for "diagnostic()" is 0 (NOT enabled.)

see also DIAGNOSTICS

"default_path"

Syntax: "default_path( [string, string] )"

The second string argument is optional.

Works just like "strict_path", except that instead of returning "undef" when the argument passed in doesn't look like a path, it will return a default string instead. The default string returned will either be the built-in default path, or the string you specify as a second argument to this method.

The default string returned by this method is '.' . SL (see SL)

This means that on windows, the built-in default would be ".\" whereas on a POSIX-compliant system (Linux, UNIX, Mac, etc) you would get "./"

see also strict_path)

"ebcdic"

Syntax: "ebcdic"

Returns 1 if the machine on which the code is running uses EBCDIC, or returns 0 if not. (see perlebcdic.) This is a constant method. It accepts no arguments and will always return the same value for the system on which it is executed.

"escape_filename"

Syntax: "escape_filename( [string], [escape char] )"

Returns it's argument in an escaped form that is suitable for use as a filename. Illegal characters (i.e.- any type of newline character, tab, vtab, and the following "/ | * " ? < : > \"), are replaced with [escape char] or "_" if no [escape char] is specified. Returns an empty string if no arguments are provided.

"existent"

Syntax: "existent( [file name] )"

Returns 1 if the named file (or directory) exists. Otherwise a value of undef is returned.

This works the same as Perl's built-in "-e" file test operator, (see "-X" in perlfunc), it's just easier for some people to remember.

"file_type"

Syntax: "file_type( [file name] )"

Returns a list of keywords corresponding to each of Perl's built in file tests (those specific to file types) for which the named file returns true. (see "-X" in perlfunc.)

The keywords and their definitions appear below; the order of keywords returned is the same as the order in which the are listed here:

"flock_rules"

Syntax: "flock_rules( [keyword list] )"

Sets I/O race condition policy, or tells File::Util how it should handle race conditions created when a file can't be locked because it is already locked somewhere else (usually by another process).

An empty call to this method returns a list of keywords representing the rules that are currently in effect for the object.

Otherwise, a call should include a list containing your chosen directive keywords in order of precedence. The rules will be applied in cascading order when a File::Util object attempts to lock a file, so if the actions specified by the first rule don't result in success, the second rule is applied, and so on.

This setting can be dynamically changed at any point in your code by calling this method as desired.

The default behavior of File::Util is to try and obtain an exclusive lock on all file opens (if supported by your operating system). If a lock cannot be obtained, File::Util will throw an exception and exit.

If you want to change that behavior, this method is the way to do it. One common situation is for someone to want their code to first try for a lock, and failing that, to wait until one can be obtained. If that's what you want, see the examples after the keywords list below.

Recognized keywords:

"is_bin"

Syntax: "is_bin( [file name] )"

Returns 1 if the named file (or directory) exists. Otherwise a value of undef is returned, indicating that the named file either does not exist or is of another file type.

This works the same as Perl's built-in "-B" file test operator, (see "-X" in perlfunc), it's just easier for some people to remember.

"is_readable"

Syntax: "is_readable( [file name] )"

Returns 1 if the named file (or directory) is readable by your program according to the applied permissions of the file system on which the file resides. Otherwise a value of undef is returned.

This works the same as Perl's built-in "-r" file test operator, (see "-X" in perlfunc), it's just easier for some people to remember.

"is_writable"

Syntax: "is_writable( [file name] )"

Returns 1 if the named file (or directory) is writable by your program according to the applied permissions of the file system on which the file resides. Otherwise a value of undef is returned.

This works the same as Perl's built-in "-w" file test operator, (see "-X" in perlfunc), it's just easier for some people to remember.

"last_access"

Syntax: "last_access( [file name] )"

Returns the last accessed time for the named file in non-leap seconds since whatever your system considers to be the epoch. Suitable for feeding to Perl's built-in functions "gmtime" and "localtime". (see "time" in perlfunc.)

"last_changed"

Syntax: "last_changed( [file name] )"

Returns the inode change time for the named file in non-leap seconds since whatever your system considers to be the epoch. Suitable for feeding to Perl's built-in functions "gmtime" and "localtime". (see "time" in perlfunc.)

"last_modified"

Syntax: "last_modified( [file name] )"

Returns the last modified time for the named file in non-leap seconds since whatever your system considers to be the epoch. Suitable for feeding to Perl's built-in functions "gmtime" and "localtime". (see "time" in perlfunc.)

"line_count"

Syntax: "line_count( [file name] )"

Returns the number of lines in the named file. Fails with an error if the named file does not exist.

"list_dir"

Syntax: "list_dir( [directory name] => { option => value, ... } )"

Returns all file names in the specified directory, sorted in alphabetical order. Fails with an error if no such directory is found, or if the directory is inaccessible.

Note that this is one of File::Util's most robust methods, and can be very useful. It can be used as a higher order function (accepting callback subrefs), and can be used for advanced pattern matching against files. It can also return a hierarchical data structure of the file tree you ask it to walk.

See the File::Util::Manual::Examples for several useful ways to use "list_dir()".

Syntax example to recursively return a list of subdirectories in directory "dir_name":

   my @dirs = $f->list_dir( 'dir_name' => { dirs_only => 1, recurse => 1 } );
    

"load_dir"

Syntax: "load_dir( [directory name] => { options } )"

Returns a data structure containing the contents of each file present in the named directory.

The type of data structure returned is determined by the optional data-type option parameter. Only one option at a time may be used for a given call to this method. Recognized options are listed below.

   my $files_hash_ref = $f->load_dir( $dirname ); # default (hashref)

      -OR-

   my $files_list_ref = $f->load_dir( $dirname => { as_listref => 1 } );

      -OR-

   my @files = $f->load_dir( $dirname => { as_list => 1 } );
    

   my $hash_ref = {};

   %$hash_ref = map { $_ => $ftl->load_file( $_ ) }
                $ftl->list_dir( $dir_name => { advanced options... } );

   my $templates = $f->load_dir( 'templates/stock-ticker' );

   my $files =
      {
         'a.txt'  => 'the contents of file a.txt',
         'b.html' => 'the contents of file b.html',
         'c.dat'  => 'the contents of file c.dat',
         'd.conf' => 'the contents of file d.conf',
      };

"load_file"

Syntax: "load_file( [file name] => { options } )"

OR: "load_file( file_handle => [file handle reference] => { options } )"

If [file name] is passed, returns the contents of [file name] in a string. If a [file handle reference] is passed instead, the filehandle will be "CORE::read()" and the data obtained by the read will be returned in a string.

If you desire the contents of the file (or file handle data) in a list of lines instead of a single string, this can be accomplished through the use of the "as_lines" option (see below).

"make_dir"

Syntax: "make_dir( [new directory name], [bitmask] => { options } )"

Attempts to create (recursively) a directory as [new directory name] with the [bitmask] provided. The bitmask is an optional argument and defaults to oct 777, combined with the current user's umask. If specified, the bitmask must be supplied in the form required by the native perl umask function (as an octal number). see "umask" in perlfunc for more information about the format of the bitmask argument.

As mentioned above, the recursive creation of directories is transparently handled for you. This means that if the name of the directory you pass in contains a parent directory that does not exist, the parent directory(ies) will be created for you automatically and silently in order to create the final directory in the [new directory name].

Simply put, if [new directory] is "/path/to/directory" and the directory "/path/to" does not exist, the directory "/path/to" will be created and the "/path/to/directory" directory will be created thereafter. All directories created will be created with the [bitmask] you specify, or with the default of oct 777, combined with the current user's umask.

Upon successful creation of the [new directory name], the [new directory name] is returned to the caller.

"abort_depth"

Syntax: "abort_depth( [positive integer] )"

When called without any arguments, this method returns an integer reflecting the current number of times the File::Util object will dive into the subdirectories it discovers when recursively listing directory contents from a call to "File::Util::list_dir()". The default is 1000. If the number is exceeded, the File::Util object will fail with an error.

When called with an argument, it sets the maximum number of times a File::Util object will recurse into subdirectories before failing with an error message.

This method can only be called with a numeric integer value. Passing a bad argument to this method will cause it to fail with an error.

(see also: list_dir)

"needs_binmode"

Syntax: "needs_binmode"

Returns 1 if the machine on which the code is running requires that "binmode()" (a built-in function) be called on open file handles, or returns 0 if not. (see "binmode" in perlfunc.) This is a constant method. It accepts no arguments and will always return the same value for the system on which it is executed.

"new"

Syntax: "new( { options } )"

This is the File::Util constructor method. It returns a new File::Util object reference when you call it. It recognizes various options that govern the behavior of the new File::Util object.

"onfail"

Syntax: "onfail( [keyword or code reference] )"

Dynamically set/change the default error handling policy for an object.

This works exactly the same as it does when you specify an "onfail" handler to the constructor method (see also "new").

The syntax and keywords available to use for this method are already discussed above in the ERROR HANDLING section, so refer to that for in-depth details.

Here are some examples:

   $ftl->onfail( 'die' );

   $ftl->onfail( 'zero' );

   $ftl->onfail( 'undefined' );

   $ftl->onfail( 'message' );

   $ftl->onfail( \&subroutine_reference );

   $ftl->onfail( sub { my ( $error, $stack_trace ) = @_; ... } );
    

"open_handle"

Syntax: "open_handle( [file name] => [mode] => { options } )"

OR: "open_handle( file => [file name] => mode => [mode] => { options } )"

Attempts to get a lexically scoped open file handle on [file name] in [mode] mode. Returns the file handle if successful or generates a fatal error with a diagnostic message if the operation fails.

You will need to remember to call "close()" on the filehandle yourself, at your own discretion. Leaving filehandles open is not a good practice, and is not recommended. see "close" in perlfunc).

Once you have the file handle you would use it as you would use any file handle. Remember that unless you specifically turn file locking off when the "File::Util" object is created (see new) or by using the "no_lock" option when calling "open_handle", that file locking is going to automagically be handled for you behind the scenes, so long as your OS supports file locking of any kind at all. Great! It's very convenient for you to not have to worry about portability in taking care of file locking between one application and the next; by using "File::Util" in all of them, you know that you're covered.

A slight inconvenience for the price of a larger set of features (compare write_file to this method) you will have to release the file lock on the open handle yourself. "File::Util" can't manage it for you anymore once it turns the handle over to you. At that point, it's all yours. In order to release the file lock on your file handle, call unlock_open_handle() on it. Otherwise the lock will remain for the life of your process. If you don't want to use the free portable file locking, remember the "no_lock" option, which will turn off file locking for your open handle. Seldom, however, should you ever opt to not use file locking unless you really know what you are doing. The only obvious exception would be if you are working with files on a network-mounted filesystem like NFS or SMB (CIFS), in which case locking can be buggy.

If the file does not yet exist it will be created, and it will be created with a bitmask of [bitmask] if you specify a file creation bitmask using the 'bitmask' option, otherwise the file will be created with the default bitmask of oct 777. The bitmask is combined with the current user's umask, whether you specify a value or not. This is a function of Perl, not File::Util.

If specified, the bitmask must be supplied in the form of an octal number as required by the native perl umask function. See "umask" in perlfunc for more information about the format of the bitmask argument. If the file [file name] already exists then the bitmask argument has no effect and is silently ignored.

Any non-existent directories in the path preceding the actual file name will be automatically (and silently - no warnings) created for you and any new directories will be created with a bitmask of [dbitmask], provided you specify a directory creation bitmask with the 'dbitmask' option.

If specified, the directory creation bitmask [dbitmask] must be supplied in the form required by the native perl umask function.

If there is an error while trying to create any preceding directories, the failure results in a fatal error with an error. If all directories preceding the name of the file already exist, the dbitmask argument has no effect and is silently ignored.

Native Perl open modes

The default behavior of "open_handle()" is to open file handles using Perl's native "open()" (see "open" in perlfunc). Unless you use the "use_sysopen" option, only then are the following modes valid:

System level open modes ("open a la C")

Optionally you can ask "File::Util" to open your handle using "CORE::sysopen" instead of using the native Perl "CORE::open()". This is accomplished by enabling the "use_sysopen" option. Using this feature opens up more possibilities as far as the open modes you can choose from, but also carries with it a few caveats so you have to be careful, just as you'd have to be a little more careful when using "sysopen()" anyway.

Specifically you need to remember that when using this feature you must NOT mix different types of I/O when working with the file handle. You can't go opening file handles with "sysopen()" and print to them as you normally would print to a file handle. You have to use "syswrite()" instead. The same applies here. If you get a "sysopen()"'d filehandle from "open_handle()" it is imperative that you use "syswrite()" on it. You'll also need to use "sysseek()" and other type of "sys"* commands on the filehandle instead of their native Perl equivalents.

(see "sysopen" in perlfunc, "syswrite" in perlfunc, "sysseek" in perlfunc, "sysread" in perlfunc)

That said, here are the different modes you can choose from to get a file handle when using the "use_sysopen" option. Remember that these won't work unless you use that option, and will generate an error if you try using them without it. The standard 'read', 'write', and 'append' modes are already available to you by default. These are the extended modes:

Options accepted by "open_handle()"

"read_limit"

Syntax: "read_limit( [positive integer] )"

By default, the largest size file that File::Util will read into memory and return via the load_file is 52428800 bytes (50 megabytes).

This value can be modified by calling this method with an integer value reflecting the new limit you want to impose, in bytes. For example, if you want to set the limit to 10 megabytes, call the method with an argument of 10485760.

If this method is called without an argument, the read limit currently in force for the File::Util object will be returned.

"return_path"

Syntax: "return_path( [string] )"

Takes the file path from the file name provided and returns it such that "/who/you/callin/scruffy.txt" is returned as "/who/you/callin".

This method is optimized for speed and returns anything that could possibly be a file path, even if that means the path is actually "foo.bar" if you passed it such an argument. Technically, you could indeed have a directory named "blaster.txt", so this method doesn't distinguish between strings that look like file names and ones that don't.

If you want one that does, you need to use "strict_path()" instead. (see strict_path)

"size"

Syntax: "size( [file name] )"

Returns the file size of [file name] in bytes. Returns 0 if the file is empty. Returns "undef" if the file does not exist.

"split_path"

Syntax: "split_path( [string] )"

Takes a path/filename, fully-qualified or relative (it doesn't matter), and it returns a list comprising the root of the path (if any), each directory in the path, and the final part of the path (be it a file, a directory, or otherwise)

This method doesn't divine or detect any information about the path, it simply manipulates the string value. It doesn't map it to any real filesystem object. It doesn't matter whether or not the file/path named in the input string exists or not.

"strict_path"

Syntax: "strict_path( [string] )"

Works just like "return_path()" except that it is more strict in what it returns. If you pass it a string that does not "look" like a path (a string with no directory separators or that is not "." or ".."), then this method will return "undef".

If you'd like to get a default path string returned instead of "undef", then you want to use the "default_path()" method instead.

(see also return_path and default_path)

"strip_path"

Syntax: "strip_path( [string] )"

Strips the file path from the file name provided and returns the file name only.

Given "/kessel/run/12/parsecs", it returns "parsecs"

Given "C:\you\scoundrel", it returns "scoundrel"

"touch"

Syntax: "touch( [file name] )"

Behaves like the *nix "touch" command; Updates the access and modification times of the specified file to the current time. If the file does not exist, "File::Util" tries to create it empty. This method will fail with a fatal error if system permissions deny alterations to or creation of the file.

Returns 1 if successful. If unsuccessful, fails with an error.

"trunc"

Syntax: "trunc( [file name] )"

Truncates [file name] (i.e.- wipes out, or "clobbers" the contents of the specified file.) Returns 1 if successful. If unsuccessful, fails with a descriptive error message about what went wrong.

"unlock_open_handle"

Syntax: "unlock_open_handle([file handle])"

Release the flock on a file handle you opened with open_handle.

Returns true on success, false on failure. Will not raise a fatal error if the unlock operation fails. You can capture the return value from your call to this method and "die()" if you so desire. Failure is not ever very likely, or "File::Util" wouldn't have been able to get a portable lock on the file in the first place.

If "File::Util" wasn't able to ever lock the file due to limitations of your operating system, a call to this method will return a true value.

If file locking has been disabled on the file handle via the "no_lock" option at the time open_handle was called, or if file locking was disabled using the use_flock method, or if file locking was disabled on the entire "File::Util" object at the time of its creation (see new()), calling this method will have no effect and a true value will be returned.

"use_flock"

Syntax: "use_flock( [true / false value] )"

When called without any arguments, this method returns a true or false value to reflect the current use of "flock()" within the File::Util object.

When called with a true or false value as its single argument, this method will tell the File::Util object whether or not it should attempt to use "flock()" in its I/O operations. A true value indicates that the File::Util object will use "flock()" if available, a false value indicates that it will not. The default is to use "flock()" when available on your system.

"write_file"

Syntax: "write_file( [file name] => [string] => { other_options } )"

OR: "write_file( { file => [file name], content => [string], mode => [mode], other_options } )"

Syntax Examples:

   # get some content (a string returned from a function call, perhaps)
   my $answer = ask_commissioner( 'Can he be trusted?' );

   $ftl->write_file( 'Harvey_Dent.txt' => $answer );

      -OR-

   # get some binary content, maybe a picture...
   my $binary_data = get_mugshot( alias => 'twoface' );

   $ftl->write_file( 'suspect.png' => $binary_data => { binmode => 1 } );

      -OR-

   # write a file with UTF-8 encoding (unicode character support)
   $ftl->write_file( 'encoded.txt' => $encoded_data => { binmode => 'utf8' } );

      -OR-

   $ftl->write_file(
      {
         file    => '/gotham/city/ballots/Bruce_Wayne.txt',
         content => 'Vote for Harvey!',
         bitmask => oct 600, # <- secret ballot file permissions
      }
   );
    

Attempts to write [string] to [file name] in mode [mode]. If the file does not yet exist it will be created, and it will be created with a bitmask of [bitmask] if you specify a file creation bitmask using the 'bitmask' option, otherwise the file will be created with the default bitmask of oct 777. The bitmask is combined with the current user's umask, whether you specify a value or not. This is a function of Perl, not File::Util.

[string] should be a string or a scalar variable containing a string. The string can be any type of data, such as a binary stream, or ascii text with line breaks, etc. Be sure to enable the "binmode => 1" option for binary streams, and be sure to specify a value of "binmode => 'utf8'" for UTF-8 encoded data.

NOTE: that you will need Perl version 5.8 or better to use the 'utf8' feature, or your program will fail with an error.

If specified, the bitmask must be supplied in the form of an octal number, as required by the native perl umask function. see "umask" in perlfunc for more information about the format of the bitmask argument. If the file [file name] already exists then the bitmask argument has no effect and is silently ignored.

Returns 1 if successful or fails with an error if not successful.

Any non-existent directories in the path preceding the actual file name will be automatically (and silently - no warnings) created for you and new directories will be created with a bitmask of [dbitmask], provided you specify a directory creation bitmask with the 'dbitmask' option.

If specified, the directory creation bitmask [dbitmask] must be supplied in the form required by the native perl umask function.

If there is a problem while trying to create any preceding directories, the failure results in a fatal error. If all directories preceding the name of the file already exist, the dbitmask argument has no effect and is silently ignored.

"valid_filename"

Syntax: "valid_filename( [string] )"

For the given string, returns 1 if the string is a legal file name for the system on which the program is running, or returns undef if it is not. This method does not test for the validity of file paths! It tests for the validity of file names only. (It is used internally to check beforehand if a file name is usable when creating new files, but is also a public method available for external use.)

"NL"

Syntax: "NL"

Short for "New Line". Returns the correct new line character (or character sequence) for the system on which your program runs.

"SL"

Syntax: "SL"

Short for "Slash". Returns the correct directory path separator for the system on which your program runs.

"OS"

Syntax: "OS"

Returns the File::Util keyword for the operating system FAMILY it detected. The keyword for the detected operating system will be one of the following, derived from the contents of $^O, or if $^O can not be found, from the contents of $Config::Config{osname} (see native Config library), or if that doesn't contain a recognizable value, finally falls back to "UNIX".

Generally speaking, Linux operating systems are going to be detected as "UNIX". This isn't a bug. The OS FAMILY to which it belongs uses "UNIX" style filesystem conventions and line endings, which are the relevant things to file handling operations.