Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!altitude!pascal
From: pascal@CAM.ORG (Pascal Gosselin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: MPW 3.1 bug (can't find a directory) ?
Summary: EXIST function doesn't work properly.
Keywords: MPW 3.1 BUG
Message-ID: <1990Dec24.055351.3384@CAM.ORG>
Date: 24 Dec 90 05:53:51 GMT
Organization: Altitude.CAM.ORG, St-Lambert QC  CANADA
Lines: 32

I've hit upon what seems to be a nasty problem in MPW 3.1 .  What's worse is
that it's the second time it has happens to me, but I don't remember how I
actually solved the problem the first time that it occured (it was several
months ago).

The problem occurs with the following code ( I did not write this, this
is purely "canned" code which I am using):

if not "`exists -d {ctlib}`"
     Echo "### {0} - Invalid source directory." > Dev:StdErr
     Echo "### {0} - does not exist." > Dev:StdErr
end

Amazingly, MPW substitues {0} for a path that EXISTS!  In fact, it's currently
the DEFAULT path in the MPW SHELL !

I have turned-off all INITs, rebuilt the desktop, tried finder-only, etc....

No go.  I am running on a 4meg Mac Classic under 6.0.7 (I normally run
Desktop Manager, but I turned that off too).  I remember encountering the
same problem a few months ago on my SE/30 running 6.0.5 (also with Desktop
Manager), and I THINK I solved it by turning off the desktop Manager and
Boomerang....

What's the deal?


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| Pascal Gosselin          | Internet: P.Gosselin@CAM.ORG Applelink: CDA0585 |
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