New os.path.exists( ) behavior - bug or feature?

[klappnase]

Hi all,
yesterday I installed Python-2.5 and python-2.4.4 on my windows2k box.
When trying to use os.path.exists( ) to detect which drives are present
on the system I noticed that
these behave differently:

Python 2.4.4 (#71, Oct 18 2006, 08:34:43) [MSC v.1310 32 bit (Intel)]
on win32
Type "copyright" , "credits" or "license()" for more information.

>>import os
for char in 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ':

if os.path.exists( '%s:\\' % char):
print '%s:\\' % char
A:\
C:\
D:\
E:\

>>>

############### ############### #############

Python 2.5 (r25:51908, Sep 19 2006, 09:52:17) [MSC v.1310 32 bit
(Intel)] on win32
Type "copyright" , "credits" or "license()" for more information.

>>import os
for char in 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ':

if os.path.exists( '%s:\\' % char):
print '%s:\\' % char
C:\

>>>

When I insert a floppy into A: os.path.exists( 'A:\\') will return True
on Python-2.5, too.
Does anyone know, is this inconsistent behavior a bug or a new feature?

I also noticed that the Tix binaries are no longer present in 2.5, does
anyone know if it is
planned to remove them pemanently?

Thanks in advance

Michael

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=22Martin_v=2E_L=F6wis=22?=]

klappnase schrieb:

When I insert a floppy into A: os.path.exists( 'A:\\') will return True
on Python-2.5, too.
Does anyone know, is this inconsistent behavior a bug or a new feature?

Neither, nor. In both cases, the operating system is asked, and gives
this answer. However, in the Windows API, there is no "exists" function
(nor is there on Unix); instead, exists is implemented by calling
several underlying functions. The precise set of functions used did
change between 2.4 and 2.5.

It is quite difficult to investigate the precise nature of the change
that leads to this change in observable behavior. If you think this is
a bug, it would be best if you could also investigate a patch.

I also noticed that the Tix binaries are no longer present in 2.5, does
anyone know if it is
planned to remove them pemanently?

That was a mistake, I'll add it back in 2.5.1.

Regards,
Martin

[klappnase]

Martin v. Löwis schrieb:

>
Neither, nor. In both cases, the operating system is asked, and gives
this answer. However, in the Windows API, there is no "exists" function
(nor is there on Unix); instead, exists is implemented by calling
several underlying functions. The precise set of functions used did
change between 2.4 and 2.5.

It is quite difficult to investigate the precise nature of the change
that leads to this change in observable behavior. If you think this is
a bug, it would be best if you could also investigate a patch.

I don't know if it is a bug; at least it is backwards incompatible,
which I think is never a good thing.
Unfortunately, I am afraid writing a patch is beyond my expertise :(

Regards

Michael

[Martin Miller]

FWIW, your code works correctly for me in all respects with Python 2.5
on Windows XP Pro.
I no longer have Python 2.4.x installed, so can't easily do a
comparison.

Perhaps the problem has something to do with Python 2.5 with Windows
2K.

-Martin
On Dec 17 2006, 4:29 pm, "klappnase" <klappn...@web. dewrote:

Hi all,
yesterday I installed Python-2.5 and python-2.4.4 on my windows2k box.
When trying to use os.path.exists( ) to detect which drives are present
on the system I noticed that
these behave differently:

Python 2.4.4 (#71, Oct 18 2006, 08:34:43) [MSC v.1310 32 bit (Intel)]
on win32
Type "copyright" , "credits" or "license()" for more information.

>import os
for char in 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ': if os.path.exists( '%s:\\' % char):

print '%s:\\' % char

A:\
C:\
D:\
E:\

############### ############### #############

Python 2.5 (r25:51908, Sep 19 2006, 09:52:17) [MSC v.1310 32 bit
(Intel)] on win32
Type "copyright" , "credits" or "license()" for more information.

>import os
for char in 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ': if os.path.exists( '%s:\\' % char):

print '%s:\\' % char

C:\

When I insert a floppy into A: os.path.exists( 'A:\\') will return True
on Python-2.5, too.
Does anyone know, is this inconsistent behavior a bug or a new feature?

I also noticed that theTixbinaries are no longer present in 2.5, does
anyone know if it is
planned to remove them pemanently?

Thanks in advance

Michael