idlastro / Miscellaneous (Non-Astronomy) Procedures: SPEC_DIR

[Source code]

NAME
SPEC_DIR()
PURPOSE
Complete a file specification by appending the default disk or directory
CALLING SEQUENCE
File_spec = SPEC_DIR( filename, [ extension ] )
INPUT
filename - character string giving partial specification of a file
          name.  Examples for different operating systems include the
                  following:
          Unix: 'pro/test.dat', '$IDL_HOME/test','~/subpro'
          MacOS: ':Programs:test'
          Windows: '\pro\test.dat','d:\pro\test'
OPTIONAL INPUT
exten - string giving a default file name extension to be used if
        filename does not contain one.  Do not include the period.
OUTPUT
File_spec - Complete file specification using default disk or 
          directory when necessary.  
EXAMPLE
IDL> a = spec_dir('test','dat')
is equivalent to the commands
IDL> cd, current=cdir
IDL> a = cdir + delim + 'test.dat'
where delim is the OS-dependent separator 
METHOD
SPEC_DIR() decomposes the file name using FDECOMP, and appends the 
default directory (obtained from the FILE_EXPAND_PATH) if necessary.   
SPEC_DIR() does not check whether the constructed file name actually
exists.
PROCEDURES CALLED
FDECOMP, EXPAND_TILDE()
REVISION HISTORY
Written W. Landsman         STX         July, 1987
Expand Unix tilde if necessary              W. Landsman  September 1997
Assume since V5.5, use FILE_EXPAND_PATH, remove VMS support        
        W. Landsman   September 2006