File::pushd - change directory temporarily for a limited scope

This documentation describes version 1.00.

  use File::pushd;

  chdir $ENV{HOME};

  # change directory again for a limited scope
  {
      my $dir = pushd( '/tmp' );
      # working directory changed to /tmp
  }
  # working directory has reverted to $ENV{HOME}

  # tempd() is equivalent to pushd( File::Temp::tempdir )
  {
      my $dir = tempd();
  }

  # object stringifies naturally as an absolute path
  {
     my $dir = pushd( '/tmp' );
     my $filename = File::Spec->catfile( $dir, "somefile.txt" );
     # gives /tmp/somefile.txt
  }

File::pushd does a temporary chdir that is easily and automatically reverted, similar to pushd in some Unix command shells. It works by creating an object that caches the original working directory. When the object is destroyed, the destructor calls chdir to revert to the original working directory. By storing the object in a lexical variable with a limited scope, this happens automatically at the end of the scope.

This is very handy when working with temporary directories for tasks like testing; a function is provided to streamline getting a temporary directory from File::Temp.

For convenience, the object stringifies as the canonical form of the absolute pathname of the directory entered.

  use File::pushd;

Using File::pushd automatically imports the pushd and tempd functions.

  {
      my $dir = pushd( $target_directory );
  }

Caches the current working directory, calls chdir to change to the target directory, and returns a File::pushd object. When the object is destroyed, the working directory reverts to the original directory.

The provided target directory can be a relative or absolute path. If called with no arguments, it uses the current directory as its target and returns to the current directory when the object is destroyed.

  {
      my $dir = tempd();
  }

This function is like pushd but automatically creates and calls chdir to a temporary directory created by File::Temp. Unlike normal File::Temp cleanup which happens at the end of the program, this temporary directory is removed when the object is destroyed. (But also see preserve.) A warning will be issued if the directory cannot be removed.

  {
      my $dir = tempd();
      $dir->preserve;      # mark to preserve at end of scope
      $dir->preserve(0);   # mark to delete at end of scope
  }

Controls whether a temporary directory will be cleaned up when the object is destroyed. With no arguments, preserve sets the directory to be preserved. With an argument, the directory will be preserved if the argument is true, or marked for cleanup if the argument is false. Only tempd objects may be marked for cleanup. (Target directories to pushd are always preserved.) preserve returns true if the directory will be preserved, and false otherwise.

• File::chdir

Please report any bugs or feature using the CPAN Request Tracker. Bugs can be submitted through the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org/Dist/Display.html?Queue=File-pushd

When submitting a bug or request, please include a test-file or a patch to an existing test-file that illustrates the bug or desired feature.

David A. Golden (DAGOLDEN)

Copyright (c) 2005, 2006, 2007 by David A. Golden

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Files produced as output though the use of this software, including generated copies of boilerplate templates provided with this software, shall not be considered Derivative Works, but shall be considered the original work of the Licensor.

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.