chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) (06/05/88)
Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have
a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path".
The expected response would be "path: No such file or directory." Instead,
no message is issued, and either you stay where you were or you move to
$path[1]. This behavior is independant of the definition of "cdpath" (or
lack of definition).
I've seen this on both SCO XENIX and SysV on an Edge. Now I'm trying to
figure out whether it is refreshing or frustrating that XENIX is close
enough to SysV to replicate it bug for bug.
--
Chip Rosenthal /// chip@vector.UUCP /// Dallas Semiconductor /// 214-450-0400
{uunet!warble,sun!texsun!rpp386,killer}!vector!chip
I won't sing for politicians. Ain't singing for Spuds. This note's for you.ekrell@hector.UUCP (Eduardo Krell) (06/05/88)
In article <337@vector.UUCP> chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes: >Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have >a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path". >The expected response would be "path: No such file or directory." Instead, >no message is issued, and either you stay where you were or you move to >$path[1]. This behavior is independant of the definition of "cdpath" (or >lack of definition). This is documented in the man page for csh (at least in 4.3 BSD). When everything else fails, cd checks to see whether there's an environment variable whose name is the same as the argument you typed. If the value of that variable is a string and starts with a "/", then it takes that as the directory to cd to. Eduardo Krell AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ UUCP: {ihnp4,ucbvax}!ulysses!ekrell ARPA: ekrell@ulysses.att.com
gwyn@brl-smoke.ARPA (Doug Gwyn ) (06/05/88)
In article <337@vector.UUCP> chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes:
-Here is a wierd one. In csh, ...
-Now I'm trying to figure out whether it is refreshing or frustrating
-that XENIX is close enough to SysV to replicate it bug for bug.
Since csh is not part of UNIX System V, this is nonsense.jbush@ficc.UUCP (james bush) (06/16/88)
In article <337@vector.UUCP>, chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes: > Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have > a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path". > > The expected response would be "path: No such file or directory." Instead, > no message is issued, and either you stay where you were or you move to > $path[1]... This is even more wierd. I tried it on our Intel Xenix system, and it worked as you said when I did it under my login. However, when I tried to show it to my friend under his id, it came up with the "expected" error message! I am not sure what the difference is. -- James Bush, Ferranti, Houston Praise the Lord Internal address: jbush extension 5230, mail stop A/3204, room A/3602 External address: ..!uunet!nuchat!sugar!ficc!jbush
ljz@fxgrp.UUCP (Lloyd Zusman) (06/17/88)
In article <922@.UUCP> jbush@ficc.UUCP (james bush) writes: In article <337@vector.UUCP>, chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes: > Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have > a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path". > ... This is even more wierd. I tried it on our Intel Xenix system, and it worked as you said when I did it under my login. However, when I tried to show it to my friend under his id, it came up with the "expected" error message! I am not sure what the difference is. The wierd behavior described by Mr. Rosenthal is due to a little known feature of the C shell: If a shell variable is set to a value whose first character is a "/", it can be used with cd without the leading dollar sign. For example, suppose you have done the following: set foo = /a/b/c/d/e Then, the next two lines will have the exact same behavior: cd $foo cd foo Here's the description in our csh man page: cd [dir] chdir [dir] Change the shell's working directory to directory dir. ... ... If dir is the name of a shell variable whose value starts with a /, change to the direc- tory named by that value. Note that this works only with shell variables, not environment variables. The wierd behavior described by Mr. Bush might be due to the fact that his 'path' variable's first entry begins with a "/", while his friend's 'path' variable doesn't. -- Lloyd Zusman UUCP: ...!ames!fxgrp!ljz Master Byte Software Internet: ljz%fx.com@ames.arc.nasa.gov Los Gatos, California or try: fxgrp!ljz@ames.arc.nasa.gov "We take things well in hand."
maujd@warwick.UUCP (Geoff Rimmer) (06/21/88)
In article <337@vector.UUCP> chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes: >Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have >a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path". > >The expected response would be "path: No such file or directory." Instead, >no message is issued, and either you stay where you were or you move to >$path[1]. This behavior is independant of the definition of "cdpath" (or >lack of definition). > Let me quote from the manual page for csh! cd [dir] chdir [dir] Change the shell's working directory to directory dir. If no argument is given, change to the home directory of the user. If dir is a relative path-name not found in the current directory, check for it in those directories listed in the cdpath variable. If dir is the name of a shell variable whose value starts with a /, change to the directory named by that value. i.e. the argument after the 'cd' or 'chdir' is checked:- 1 for a directory given by a relative pathname 2 for a directory in cdpath 3 for a directory taken from the shell variable so, since #1,2 fail with your example ('cd path'), #3 is used, and so the directory is changed to $path[1] - it seems if you give it a variable that contains more than one directory, such as $path, it takes the first one. >-- >Chip Rosenthal /// chip@vector.UUCP /// Dallas Semiconductor /// 214-450-0400 >{uunet!warble,sun!texsun!rpp386,killer}!vector!chip >I won't sing for politicians. Ain't singing for Spuds. This note's for you. ------------------------------------------------------------ Geoff Rimmer, Computer Science, Warwick University, UK. maujd@uk.ac.warwick.opal "I report the news as it's seen in my country" - CNN ------------------------------------------------------------
maujd@warwick.UUCP (Geoff Rimmer) (06/27/88)
In article <922@.UUCP> jbush@ficc.UUCP (james bush) writes: >In article <337@vector.UUCP>, chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) writes: >> Here is a wierd one. In csh, move to some directory which doesn't have >> a "path" subdirectory. Then type either "cd path" or "chdir path". >> >> The expected response would be "path: No such file or directory." Instead, >> no message is issued, and either you stay where you were or you move to >> $path[1]... > >This is even more wierd. I tried it on our Intel Xenix system, and it worked >as you said when I did it under my login. However, when I tried to show it >to my friend under his id, it came up with the "expected" error message! I >am not sure what the difference is. Perhaps he uses Bourne shell? extravagent_prompt % sh $ cd path path: bad directory $ No flames please - term finishes in under a week - so I won't be here to read them 8-) Geoff. >James Bush, Ferranti, Houston Praise the Lord >Internal address: jbush extension 5230, mail stop A/3204, room A/3602 >External address: ..!uunet!nuchat!sugar!ficc!jbush ----------------------------------------------------------------- Geoff Rimmer, Computer Science, Warwick University, UK. maujd@uk.ac.warwick.opal "I do SMILE humour - people aren't SUPPOSED to laugh." "Yeah, but they aren't supposed to throw heavy objects and shout 'Get off you boring bastard, we've heard better jokes on the speaking clock!'" - Filthy Rich and Catflap (BBC TV) (Get your local TV station to buy this excellent comedy series!!) -----------------------------------------------------------------