Q168439: PRB: _stat Function Fails for Names Ending with "\"

Article: Q168439
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCRT kbVC500 kbVC600kbbuglist
Last Modified: 13-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- The C Run-Time (CRT), used with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition, version 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++.NET (2002) 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Using the C-Run-time function stat to check a directory fails when the name
passed to the function ends with "\".

For example, _stat("\\my_directory\\my_name",&buf) returns OK, but
_stat("\\my_directory\\my_name\\",&buf) will return -1 as error.

CAUSE
=====

The _stat function calls the windows API function FindFirstFile passing it the
path name. The FindFirstFile returns an invalid handle if the name ends with
"\."

RESOLUTION
==========

Remove the trailing "\" from the path name.

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following sample program demonstrates the problem:

  //Sample.cpp
  /* Compiler Options : none */ 
  #include <sys/types.h>
  #include <sys/stat.h>
  #include <stdio.h>
  #include <windows.h>
    HANDLE            hSearch;
    WIN32_FIND_DATA   Buf;
  int main( void )
  {
     struct _stat buf;
     int result;

     result = _stat( "c:\\temp", &buf );
     if( result != 0 )
        printf( "_stat function on c:\\temp failed " );

     result = _stat( "c:\\temp\\", &buf );
     if( result != 0 )
       printf( "_stat function on c:\\temp\\ failed " );

     hSearch= FindFirstFile((LPSTR)"c:\\temp", &Buf);
     if (hSearch == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE )
        printf("\n\n FindFirstFile on c:\\temp failed too");

     hSearch= FindFirstFile((LPSTR)"c:\\temp\\", &Buf);
     if (hSearch == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE )
        printf("\n\n FindFirstFile on c:\\temp\\ failed too");

  return 0;
  }

Program Output:

If you have a valid C:\temp directory:

_stat function on c:\temp\ failed.

FindFirstFile on c:\temp\ failed, too.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbCRT kbVC500 kbVC600 kbbuglist
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCRT
Version           : :5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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