# Ruby apps useing multiple files **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [September 28, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407 "2006-09-28T23:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/1 "2006-09-28T23:24:00Z")
Hi folks I’m writing an app in ruby and want to split it into more than one file to make it more manageable. How do I get the main file to include the others. Do I use some sort of include, require or load command or is there some sort of library command like TCL has. Cheers Nigel ---
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/2 "2006-09-28T23:38:03Z")
On 9/28/06, Nigel W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Hi folks > > I’m writing an app in ruby and want to split it into more than one file > to make it more manageable. How do I get the main file to include the > others. Do I use some sort of include, require or load command or is > there some sort of library command like TCL has. > > Cheers > Nigel require ‘filename’ is the proper one. you can use load ‘filename’ if you want to reload the file each time load is called (require loads the file only once) $: is load path, where require/load look for files (NB: it’s an Array) J. ---
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/3 "2006-09-28T23:46:03Z")
Nigel W. wrote: > Use ri to read about “require” and “Kernel#load”. ---
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/4 "2006-09-29T00:04:05Z")
the global variable $: is a synonym for $LOAD\_PATH which is an array of paths to search for required/loaded files ---
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/5 "2006-09-28T23:52:04Z")
On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 06:36:44 +0900 “Jan S.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > require ‘filename’ is the proper one. you can use load ‘filename’ if > you want to reload the file each time load is called (require loads > the file only once) > > $: is load path, where require/load look for files (NB: it’s an Array) > > J. > Thanks for that, however the “is load path” reference confuses me, I > can’t find a reference to it in “Ruby in a nutshell”. Can you point me > to a reference please or give an example of its use. Cheers Nigel ---
**Author:** ![Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nigel\_W](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Nigel_W)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 11:33am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-apps-useing-multiple-files/70407/6 "2006-09-29T11:33:01Z")
Nigel W. wrote: > > $: is load path, where require/load look for files (NB: it’s an Array) > > > > J. > > Thanks for that, however the “is load path” reference confuses me, I > > can’t find a reference to it in “Ruby in a nutshell”. Can you point me > > to a reference please or give an example of its use. Ruby in a Nutshell: Section 3.1 Predefined Variables