Thread: mkdir and multiple directories

It just came to my attention that mkdir won't accept parameters such as "c:/firstdir/seconddir" for creating "firstdir" in the root and "seconddir" under "firstdir".
Of course I can create individual directories like so:

Code:

mkdir ("c:/firstdir");
mkdir ("c:/firstdir/seconddir");

However, isn't there any tad more convenient solution?

The "problem" I'm facing is when the user of my program decides to extract files to some sub-directory, it'll crash if he provides a path such as "c:/blah/subdir" and the program has to create both directories.
I had thought of simply splitting the directory string at the forward or backward slashes, etc., but wasn't sure if there would be some niftier solution, eh.

Well, one of my "greatest" weakness when it comes to programming are string manipulations. Even the most basic ones seem to get me all puzzled.

Code:

void _mkpath (char *path)
{
	char	*s, *dir = NULL;

	s = path + strlen (path) - 1;

	while (s != path && *s != '/' && *s != '\\')
	{
		s--;
	}

	strncpy (dir, path, s - path);
	dir[s - path] = 0;
	mkdir (dir);
}

Scrap that, it's useless. Any example of doing what I've described in my first message? I'm not asking you to write the complete function for me, but rather show me an example. As I said, strings are one of my weaknesses.

Originally posted by Idle
It just came to my attention that mkdir won't accept parameters such as "c:/firstdir/seconddir" for creating "firstdir" in the root and "seconddir" under "firstdir".
Of course I can create individual directories like so:

Code:

mkdir ("c:/firstdir");
mkdir ("c:/firstdir/seconddir");

However, isn't there any tad more convenient solution?

The "problem" I'm facing is when the user of my program decides to extract files to some sub-directory, it'll crash if he provides a path such as "c:/blah/subdir" and the program has to create both directories.

I had thought of simply splitting the directory string at the forward or backward slashes, etc., but wasn't sure if there would be some niftier solution, eh.

Nope, you gotta createboth dirs individually.

One way is to use a recursive function:

Code:

void  makedir(char *dir)
{
    /* attempt to use mkdir */
    /* if error,  */
        /* copy dir string up to last  /  */
        /* call makedir with the new string */
    /* else  */
        /* return  */

    /* returned here -- use mkdir again */
     /* return  */
}

It's the string stuff that's getting to me, rather than the theory or logics, hrm.
I thought I'd be making some progress here... Now, let's see:

Code:

	p = strchr (path, '/');
	while (*p)
	{
		if ((*p == '/') || (*p == '\\'))
			printf ("p = %s\n", p);

		*p = 0, ++p;
	}

This, given 'path' of 'c:/one/two' prints '/one/two' and '/two'. Closer to what I'm looking for, but not quite "it", however. I believe this has been done many times before, and someone must be able to show me an example - I don't think I should have to resort to "C for dummies" or similar readings.

I've been doing this for years (programming, that is), and never have I been able to fully understand nor seem to "get the hang of" these string tricks, it's rather sad.

I'll probably find my answer in the GNU fileutils package. Thanks.