# Re: A little idiom I like

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-a-little-idiom-i-like/67871>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [September 7, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-a-little-idiom-i-like/67871 "2006-09-07T15:08:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BergerS\_Daniel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@BergerS\_Daniel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/BergerS_Daniel)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-a-little-idiom-i-like/67871/1 "2006-09-07T15:08:53Z")

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> > convert all forward slashes to backslashes. Also, the  
> > various PathXXX  
> > functions do NOT work with forward slashes.
> 
> Inasmuch as is possible, where Ruby provides these, it should  
> hide this distinction. I would hate to have to enter \ every  
> time I wanted to put two files together. (It would also  
> increase the mismatch between Ruby Windows and everywhere  
> else, so the more we can hide that the more portable we make Ruby.)
> 
> -austin

Oops. That should have said, “…convert all forward slashes to  
backslashes _on Windows_”.

Ok, technically, it uses File::ALT\_SEPARATOR if it has one. Otherwise,  
it uses File::SEPARATOR.

Regards,

Dan

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