Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ssbell!mcmi!unocss!ho@fergvax.unl.edu
From: ho@fergvax.unl.edu (Tiny Bubbles...)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: / as a dir delimiter
Message-ID: <2516@unocss..unl.edu>
Date: 13 Mar 90 00:52:51 GMT
References: <1794@crash.cts.com>
Sender: root@unocss..unl.edu
Reply-To: ho@fergvax.unl.edu
Lines: 29

From article <1794@crash.cts.com>, by elund@pro-graphics.cts.com (Eric Lund):
> In-Reply-To: message from larsen@mist.cs.orst.edu
>> Does anyone know if you can change the default directory delimiter from
>> a back slash to a forward slash?  I am a unix user and find MS-DOS's
>> use of a backslash rather annoying, as well as disasterous in c programs.
> 
> 
> ARGH!  Not another UNIX convert!  You're absolutely right, MS-DOS stinks ...
> now go back to UNIX.  We already know the limits of DOS!  Anyhow, I am aware
> of the problems the "double" backslash caused by MS-DOS C source ... yes it's
> a pain.  My solution:  Get used to it.  This is not UNIX, and the only way to
> do many things is incredibly hard, incompatible and disastrous.  You'd

Snicker... there's an undocumented DOS call that will even let you use a 
slash as a delimiter from the DOS prompt.  I don't remember what it is, 
and I highly advise against using it because most programs are hard-wired
to assume that backslashes are used as delimiters.

Furthermore, when you ask DOS what directory you're in (and you're using
that option), it makes the first backslash a slash and leaves the rest:
example, it will report crap like C:/USR\BILLY\BOB ... real &#*%&( confusing.

However, a tip:  I always use the slash in C programs.  MS-DOS seems to 
accept the slash at the below-COMMAND level.  Or, maybe that's Turbo C 
shielding me from a slightly stubborn OS... I don't know.  Try it.
---
        ... Michael Ho, University of Nebraska
Internet: ho@hoss.unl.edu               USnail:  115 Nebraska Union
                                                 Lincoln, NE 68588-0461