# Re: File::Separator on win32

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [July 24, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645 "2006-07-24T18:32:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**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:** [July 24, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645/1 "2006-07-24T18:32:58Z")

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> . this confuses the system so that it cant find the files i  
> need. is there a way round? is this a bug or wanted behaviour?

Use File::ALT\_SEPARATOR instead.

Regards,

Dan

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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:** [August 3, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645/2 "2006-08-03T14:24:34Z")

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is ALT\_SEPARATOR / on \*nixes? according to the docs, its , too. i need  
a  
portable way without the need to rewrite everything…

2006/7/24, Berger, Daniel [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):

> > on my win32 machine, File::Separator returns / instead of a  
> > This communication is the property of Qwest and may contain confidential  
> > or  
> > privileged information. Unauthorized use of this communication is strictly  
> > prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication  
> > in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy  
> > all copies of the communication and any attachments.

–  
Michael S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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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:** [August 3, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645/3 "2006-08-03T14:24:34Z")

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Michael S. wrote:

> is ALT\_SEPARATOR / on \*nixes? according to the docs, its , too. i need a  
> portable way without the need to rewrite everything…

Which docs? Anyway, it’s nil on \*nix platforms. I’m not sure about  
VMS, though.

There’s always RUBY\_PLATFORM.match(‘mswin’) 🙂

Regards,

Dan

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 23, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-file-separator-on-win32/99645/4 "2008-05-23T19:51:48Z")

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Daniel B. wrote:

> Michael S. wrote:
> 
> > is ALT\_SEPARATOR / on \*nixes? according to the docs, its , too. i need a  
> > portable way without the need to rewrite everything…
> 
> Which docs? Anyway, it’s nil on \*nix platforms. I’m not sure about  
> VMS, though.
> 
> There’s always RUBY\_PLATFORM.match(‘mswin’) 🙂
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dan

`md #{File.join("c:","foo")}` fails as well. STDERR contains ‘The  
syntax of the command is incorrect’.

In other languages, like Java, the path separator constant/method is  
used to abstract the knowledge of which operating system is in play.  
Can it not be so in Ruby?