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

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      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