huschi.net

CHDIR(3P)                  POSIX Programmer's Manual                 CHDIR(3P)

PROLOG
       This  manual  page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual.  The Linux
       implementation of this interface may differ (consult the  corresponding
       Linux  manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may
       not be implemented on Linux.
NAME
       chdir - change working directory
SYNOPSIS
       #include <unistd.h>
       int chdir(const char *path);

DESCRIPTION
       The chdir() function shall cause the directory named  by  the  pathname
       pointed  to  by  the path argument to become the current working direc-
       tory; that is, the starting point for path searches for  pathnames  not
       beginning with '/' .
RETURN VALUE
       Upon successful completion, 0 shall be returned. Otherwise, -1 shall be
       returned, the current working directory  shall  remain  unchanged,  and
       errno shall be set to indicate the error.
ERRORS
       The chdir() function shall fail if:
       EACCES Search permission is denied for any component of the pathname.
       ELOOP  A loop exists in symbolic links encountered during resolution of
              the path argument.
       ENAMETOOLONG
              The length of the path argument exceeds {PATH_MAX} or a pathname
              component is longer than {NAME_MAX}.
       ENOENT A  component of path does not name an existing directory or path
              is an empty string.
       ENOTDIR
              A component of the pathname is not a directory.

       The chdir() function may fail if:
       ELOOP  More than {SYMLOOP_MAX} symbolic links were  encountered  during
              resolution of the path argument.
       ENAMETOOLONG
              As a result of encountering a symbolic link in resolution of the
              path argument, the length of  the  substituted  pathname  string
              exceeded {PATH_MAX}.

       The following sections are informative.
EXAMPLES
   Changing the Current Working Directory
       The  following  example  makes the value pointed to by directory, /tmp,
       the current working directory.

              #include <unistd.h>
              ...
              char *directory = "/tmp";
              int ret;

              ret = chdir (directory);
APPLICATION USAGE
       None.
RATIONALE
       The chdir() function only affects the working directory of the  current
       process.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
       None.
SEE ALSO
       getcwd(),   the   Base   Definitions  volume  of  IEEE Std 1003.1-2001,
       <unistd.h>
COPYRIGHT
       Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in  electronic  form
       from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
       -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX),  The  Open  Group  Base
       Specifications  Issue  6,  Copyright  (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of
       Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open  Group.  In  the
       event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
       The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group  Standard
       is  the  referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online
       at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .

IEEE/The Open Group                  2003                            CHDIR(3P)