dpath

An file system traversing utility. Backtracks in the directory structure. Got inspiration from xpath/2.

This repository is under a MIT-license. The latest release version can be installed to Swi-Prolog as a pack by pack_install(dpath). There could be pre-release versions that are under development.

Notes

dpathw and wexplorer are modules that interact with Windows or Linux system utilities, that is, they can open files in a proper program using the extension. Also it is possible to open a file system browser where file is selected, both in Linux and Windows.

Filenames are not produced in alphabetical order from file/1 or filetype/2, the file system decides the order, usually the order of files is same. In other words, you can't trust that filenames are produced in same order always.

Filenames and extensions are case sensitive.

If file/1 or filetype/2 or dir/1 or some underlying predicates are cached using table predicates more speed is acquired. Caching naturally can causes problems if files are deleted or current directory is changed etc. If directory structure stays same then tabling the dpath:directory_directories/2 will give lots of speed.

Examples

Get files under c:/, spacebar gives alternatives

file(c:/ File). 

Output could be like

File = bootmgr ;
File = 'BOOTNXT' ;
File = 'bootTel.dat' .

Is there a file1.txt?

file('file1.txt'). 

true.

Show file in current directory, space gives alternatives

file(A).

Output could be like

A='file1.txt'; 
A='file2.txt';
A='file3.pl'

Show prolog files in current directory, alternatives are backtracked with spacebar

dpath:filetype(F.pl). %Swipl doesn't like  the dot in 'F.pl' when using filetype/2 without module qualifier 

Output could be like

F=file3

Show directory names under OneDrive root, hitting spacebar gives alternatives

getenv('OneDrive',A),prolog_to_os_filename(ProPath,A),dir(ProPath/Subdir).

Aggregate size of all files under your Documents folder, no subdirectories included

win_folder(personal,B), aggregate_all(sum(SZ), (file(B/C), pathterm_atom(B/C,AtomPath),size_file(AtomPath,SZ)),Res).

Aggregated size of prolog files in current directory level (no sub directories that is). Windows and Linux.

dpath:(A.pl=X),aggregate_all(sum(Sz),(dpath:(filetype(X),pathterm_atom(X,Path)),size_file(Path,Sz)),Res).

Output could be like

X = A.pl, %example output
Res = 1349131.

Number of sub-directories in current directory. Windows and Linux.

aggregate_all(count,dpath:dir(X),Res).

Output could be like

Res = 66.

Find ImageMagick executable

dir(c:/A),wildcard_match('Program Files*',A),
dpath:filetype(c:/A/Directory/Executable.exe),term_string(Executable,S),wildcard_match('magick*',S).

Open many explorer windows

Windows 10 opens up an Explorer window that has dpath.pl selected, when current directory has only one file: the dpath.pl file. If current directory has more prolog files then for each file a new Explorer windows is opened.

dpathw:wexplore(filetype(A.pl)).

Output could be like

%Windows or Linux shows a new file browser window for each 
A = dpath.

Open jpg images in default viewer

Windows 10 opens an jpg-image. Next image is shown after user hits spacebar in Swi-Prolog command prompt. All desktops are traversed while searching for images.

win_folder(desktop,B),dpathw:wopen(filetype(B/A.jpg)).

Open jpg images after 5 sec delays

Windows 10 shows a slideshow of jpg-images from desktop-folder, every users desktop is searched

win_folder(desktop,DesktopPath),dpathw:wopen(filetype(DesktopPath/A.jpg)), sleep(5), fail;!.

Linux example, show files that are at 6th directory level under root

dir('/'/A/B/C/D/E/F).

A = usr,
B = include,
C = 'c++',
D = '4.7',
E = ext,
F = pb_ds

Linux example, is there a smb.conf in 3rd directory level?

file('/'/A/B/'smb.conf').

A = etc,
B = samba 

Possible bugs

Using Swi-Prolog dicts might cause problems