From: "Kroeger Simon (ext)" <simon.kroeger.ext@...>
Date: 2005-09-13T23:02:05+09:00
Subject: Re: find executables on windows


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ara.T.Howard [mailto:Ara.T.Howard@noaa.gov] 
> Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2005 3:38 PM
> To: ruby-talk ML
> Subject: find executables on windows
> 
> 
> in linux i'd do something (un-tested) like:
> 
>    def find_bin bin
>      bin = nil
>      path = ENV['PATH'].split File::PATH_SEPARATOR
>      path.each do |dir|
>        b = File::join dir, bin
>        return b if File::executable? b
>      end
>      bin
>    end
> 
> what would the equivalient be in windows?  should the above 
> work or do i need
> to check some other env vars?
> 
> cheers.
> 
> -a

MSDN, CreateProcess:

...If the filename does not contain a directory path, the system
searches 
for the executable file in the following sequence: 

 - The directory from which the application loaded. 

 - The current directory for the parent process. 

 - Windows 95 and Windows 98: The Windows system directory. 
   Use theGetSystemDirectory function to get the path of this directory.

 - Windows NT: The 32-bit Windows system directory. 
   Use the GetSystemDirectory function to get the path of this
directory. 
   The name of this directory is SYSTEM32. 

 - Windows NT: The 16-bit Windows system directory. 
   There is no Win32 function that obtains the path of this directory, 
   but it is searched. The name of this directory is SYSTEM. 

 - The Windows directory. Use theGetWindowsDirectory function to get the

   path of this directory. 

 - The directories that are listed in the PATH environment variable.  

erm, yes, that's it! :)

cheers

Simon