topic Perl: retrieve link info ?? in Operating System - HP-UX

Perl: retrieve link info ??

David_246 — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:03:37 GMT

Hi There,

Hope to be allowed to ask a perl question.
I can use stat() or lstat() to retrieve info about the file, but I have the following problem.

lstat($file) --> tells me all the info of the link
stat($file) --> tells me all the info the file it is linked to

But who do I find out what file it is linked to (in Perl)????
I do not want to find out using a syscal such as ; $f_info=`/usr/bin/ll $file`;
As this is eating resources. Anybody aware of a perl solution for getting the target fname ??

Regs David

Re: Perl: retrieve link info ??

Stephen Burkwood — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:45:43 GMT

Hi David,

the perl function "readlink" will return a string indicating the target of the symbolic link. This may be a relative path from the link location or an absolute path depending upon how the link was set up.
"man perlfunc" gives you basic info on how to use it.

Hope this helps,
Stephen

Re: Perl: retrieve link info ??

H.Merijn Brand (procura — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:51:22 GMT

perl questions are always welcome.

readlink () gives you the first level of symbolic links. If the target is (again) a symlink, you'd better use the Cwd module:

use Cwd 'abs_path';
my $abs_path = abs_path($file);

# man Cwd

for the full description

Enjoy, have FUN! H.Merijn

Re: Perl: retrieve link info ??

David_246 — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:56:23 GMT

Stephen,

Perfect !!! I just couldn't find it.

my $link_target = readlink($link_file);

print "File $link_file is linked to $link_target \n";

Great !!!

Regs David