ResolveDots function

Declaration

function ResolveDots(const AFilename: string): string

Description

ResolveDots is a String function used to convert relative path information in AFilename to an absolute path reference. A relative path includes characters like '.' (for current directory - not a file name extension) and '..' (parent directory). Duplicate path limiters ('\\' for Windows) ('//' for UNIX-like environments) are converted to a single instance of the PathDelimiter defined for the platform.

For Windows platforms, drive letter designations and delimiters like 'C:' are recognized. A path starting with the UNC naming convention ('\\?\') is not resolved in the method.

Windows-specific file system quirks handled in the routine include:

C:..

Not resolved, it is copied.

C:\..

Resolved to C:\

\\..

Resolved to \\

c:/path/to/dir

Resolved to C:\path\to\dir using the PathDelimiter for the platform.

For UNIX-like environments, the resolved path may be invalid if it references the parent directory and the initial directory in the path is a symbolic link.

When AFilename ends with a relative path ('/.' or '/..'), the path is resolved to the directory represented by the relative value. The current directory for '/.' or the parent directory for '/..'.

If a relative path reference cannot be resolved for the local file system, the original path information is retained.

Some common examples include:

foo/bar/..

Resolved to foo

foo//..//

Resolved to .

foo/bar/./../baz

Resolved to foo/baz

/a/b/../..

Resolved to /

.//.//.

Resolved to .

Macros found in the AFilename are retained in the resolved file name. For example:

'($LazarusDir)/../path/that/may/be/invalid/for/macro/filename.ext'

If AFilename ends with a path trailing path delimiter or a relative path reference, the return value will end with a trailing path delimiter.