From: Joel VanderWerf <vjoel@...>
Date: 2006-04-12T02:51:38+09:00
Subject: Re: Best way to test for file existence?

Wes Gamble wrote:
> All,
> 
> What is the best way to determine the existence of a file (more 
> specifically, a directory)?
> 
> Are there Perl - like file test operators available?
> 
> Wes
> 

$ ri test | cat
------------------------------------------------------------ Kernel#test
     test(int_cmd, file1 [, file2] ) => obj
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Uses the integer <em>aCmd</em> to perform various tests on
      <em>file1</em> (first table below) or on <em>file1</em> and
      <em>file2</em> (second table).

      File tests on a single file:

        Test   Returns   Meaning
         ?A  | Time    | Last access time for file1
         ?b  | boolean | True if file1 is a block device
         ?c  | boolean | True if file1 is a character device
...

and so on...

-- 
      vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407