Question about using SHELL "dir" on non windows OS.

[SpriggsySpriggs]

Are you saying you can't get access to clip data faster than you can get access file data?
Is clip data written to temp files on disk by OS, that would be an explanation about access being slower for clip but seems not very smart coding.

@bplus You aren't understanding what I am saying. "clip" is a command in command prompt. The action of piping "dir" or whatever into "clip" is what takes extra time because now you are calling two commands rather than one. The clipboard itself is fine. What you are doing in "dir | clip" is telling it to run "dir" and then send everything from "dir" into the command "clip" which THEN fills the clipboard. That's slow. That command is running TWO executables. "clip" is reading the stdout handle of "dir" and then writing to the clipboard. When you write straight to a file you aren't having to worry about running a second executable. That time spent is saved. WinAPI has functions for making temp files out in a temp directory and they work great.

Oh it's probably the SHELL that's slower than pipecom.

I've been saying that SHELL is slower than pipecom for months now. But it isn't JUST the SHELL that's slower here. The "clip" command makes it way slower than pipecom and even slower than using files. Use temp files instead of "clip".

[bplus]

OK working with what pipecom returns people should know it is Chr$(10) delimited string should they want to split the string into an array.

Also it appears an empty string$ = "" is on the end, don't know if that is from pipecom probably or the split I am using?

[SpriggsySpriggs]

Probably the split you are using. Before in the past I've had to do UBOUND(array)-1. And they can always look at the C++ code to see how it is delimited. I opted for Linux style which is CHR$(10) rather than Windows style which is CHR$(13) + CHR$(10).

Which split are you using? I've had issues before with splitting strings because of the algorithms that are out there. I haven't found one I really like just yet.

[bplus]

Probably the split you are using. Before in the past I've had to do UBOUND(array)-1. And they can always look at the C++ code to see how it is delimited. I opted for Linux style which is CHR$(10) rather than Windows style which is CHR$(13) + CHR$(10).

Which split are you using? I've had issues before with splitting strings because of the algorithms that are out there. I haven't found one I really like just yet.

I opted for Linux style which is CHR$(10) rather than Windows style which is CHR$(13) + CHR$(10).

Oh is this built into the .h file? I approve! not that it matters :)
I consider the 2 byte delimiter the old DOS way and Chr$(10) the newer way, only 1 byte is more efficient.

Before in the past I've had to do UBOUND(array)-1

Don't you think this indicates an empty string on the end, I am wondering about a Chr$(0) on the end since C likes to do that. Anyway there is something useless at that Ubound.

Split1000 found here:
https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php?topic=1607.msg108201#msg108201
I am getting perfect counts in my tests of a simple array displayer and my arrays coming out of Split have some empty string character at Ubound of array. Maybe if I trimmed the returned string from pipecom? maybe I should just check that next, before the splitting. ;-))

It handles 0 and 1 base ReDim 'd arrays (dynamic that you can change the size of) it probably could handle an exotic

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. ReDim(-5 to -5) as string

but I have enough things to test and play with.

I will show you the code when I am done messing with it. I am really interested in the ideal way to do files and folders cross platform. But I suspect ideal depends on the application as usual. So my app is get a filename or pathname from anywhere on hard drive. After that selecting multiple files from different folders for some operation like copy to SD drive maybe for my backups.

[SpriggsySpriggs]

Don't you think this indicates an empty string on the end, I am wondering about a Chr$(0) on the end since C likes to do that. Anyway there is something useless at that Ubound.

I take it back.... I remember that sometimes (depending on the command) you might have an extra CHR$(10). You can use LEFT$ or MID$ and just take it off.

[bplus]

Yes at the end of the string returned by pipecom is a delimiter, to be ignored.

I got a crude browser working using pipecom to get a dir listing to navigate with:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Option _Explicit
2. _Title "Compare Pipecom to SHELL methods of file data access" 'b+ 2021-02-6
3. Screen _NewImage(1024, 400, 32)
4. _Delay .25
5. _ScreenMove _Middle
6.  
7. Declare Library "pipecom"
8.     Function pipecom$ (cmd As String)
9. End Declare
10.  
11. 'Dim F As String                 'tests with command line dir calls
12. ' NOTE: these slants work \    these do not /
13. 'F = pipecom("dir " + Chr$(34) + "C:\users\marka\desktop\QB64 work\000 work QB64" + Chr$(34) + " /b /A:D") ' Linux needs other switches
14. 'F = pipecom("dir /b *.BAS") 'if you need just the filenames and not the rest of the output
15. 'F = pipecom("dir /b /A:D") ' /b = bare list /A:D directories only
16. 'F = pipecom("dir /n /o:gend") ' long list files on right? well <dir> for dirs and files  ahhhh!
17.  
18. ReDim As String choice
19. While _KeyDown(27) = 0 'until escape
20.     choice = GetFileName$
21.     If choice <> "" Then Print: Print "You selected " + choice Else Print: Print "You canceled"
22.     Print: Print "          press any for another test, escape to quit..."
23.     Sleep
24. Wend
25.  
26. Function GetFileName$ ()
27.     Dim As String d, s, dr
28.     Getfolder:
29.     d = pipecom("dir /n /o:gend") '/n files on right (40) /o = order g for group dirs first, e extension, name, date
30.     d = Left$(d, Len(d) - 1) ' always ends with delimiter
31.     ReDim dir$(1 To 1)
32.     Split d, Chr$(10), dir$()
33.     s$ = GetArrayItem$(dir$())
34.     Cls
35.     If InStr(s$, "<DIR>") Then 'isolate name
36.         dr$ = _Trim$(Mid$(s$, InStr(s$, "<DIR>") + 6))
37.         ChDir dr$
38.         GoTo Getfolder
39.     ElseIf InStr(s$, "AM") Or InStr(s$, "PM") Then
40.         GetFileName$ = _Trim$(Mid$(s$, 40))
41.     End If
42. End Function
43.  
44. Sub Split (SplitMeString As String, delim As String, loadMeArray() As String)
45.     Dim curpos As Long, arrpos As Long, LD As Long, dpos As Long 'fix use the Lbound the array already has
46.     curpos = 1: arrpos = LBound(loadMeArray): LD = Len(delim)
47.     dpos = InStr(curpos, SplitMeString, delim)
48.     Do Until dpos = 0
49.         loadMeArray(arrpos) = Mid$(SplitMeString, curpos, dpos - curpos)
50.         arrpos = arrpos + 1
51.         If arrpos > UBound(loadMeArray) Then ReDim _Preserve loadMeArray(LBound(loadMeArray) To UBound(loadMeArray) + 1000) As String
52.         curpos = dpos + LD
53.         dpos = InStr(curpos, SplitMeString, delim)
54.     Loop
55.     loadMeArray(arrpos) = Mid$(SplitMeString, curpos)
56.     ReDim _Preserve loadMeArray(LBound(loadMeArray) To arrpos) As String 'get the ubound correct
57. End Sub
58.  
59. Function GetArrayItem$ (arr() As String)
60.     Dim As Long lb, ub, top, i, row, prevrow, n, ad, r
61.     Dim iNum$, k$
62.     lb = LBound(arr): ub = UBound(arr): ad = _AutoDisplay
63.     If ub - lb + 1 < 21 Then top = ub Else top = lb + 19
64.     Do
65.         Cls
66.         Print "       Scroll, Enter number choice, delete to Clear number, or escape to Cancel"
67.         If ub - lb + 1 > 20 Then
68.             While _MouseInput
69.                 row = row + _MouseWheel
70.                 If row < lb Then row = lb 'prevent under scrolling
71.                 If row > ub - 19 Then row = ub - 19 'prevent over scrolling
72.                 If prevrow <> row Then 'look for a change in row value
73.                     prevrow = row 'store previous row valu
74.                 End If
75.             Wend
76.             r = 2
77.             For n = row To row + 19
78.                 Locate r, 1: Print "#"; _Trim$(Str$(n)); ": "; " "; arr(n)
79.                 r = r + 1
80.             Next
81.         Else
82.             For i = lb To top
83.                 Print i; " "; arr(i)
84.             Next
85.         End If
86.         Locate 23, 1: Print iNum$
87.         k$ = InKey$
88.         If InStr("0123456789", k$) Then
89.             iNum$ = iNum$ + k$
90.         ElseIf iNum$ = "" And k$ = "-" Then
91.             iNum$ = "-"
92.         ElseIf k$ = Chr$(8) Then
93.             If Len(iNum$) Then iNum$ = Left$(iNum$, Len(iNum$) - 1)
94.         ElseIf Len(k$) = 2 And Right$(k$, 1) = Chr$(83) Then
95.             iNum$ = ""
96.         ElseIf k$ = Chr$(13) And Len(iNum$) Then
97.             If Val(iNum$) >= lb And Val(iNum$) <= ub Then GetArrayItem$ = arr(Val(iNum$)): Exit Do Else iNum$ = ""
98.         ElseIf k$ = Chr$(27) Then
99.             Exit Function
100.         End If
101.         _Display
102.         _Limit 30
103.     Loop
104.     If ad Then _AutoDisplay ' reverse changes
105.     _KeyClear
106. End Function
107.