# A little idiom I like

**URL:** <https://rubytalk.org/t/a-little-idiom-i-like/30745>\
**Category:** ruby-talk\
**Created:** [7 September 2006 13:07 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/a-little-idiom-i-like/30745 "2006-09-07T13:07:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Berger\_Daniel1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecc23a/32.png) [@Berger\_Daniel1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Berger_Daniel1)\
**Post date:** [7 September 2006 13:07 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/a-little-idiom-i-like/30745/1 "2006-09-07T13:07:38Z")

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Oops. That should have said, "...convert all forward slashes to  
backslashes \*on Windows\*".

Ok, technically, it uses File::ALT\_SEPARATOR if it has one. Otherwise,  
it uses File::SEPARATOR.

Regards,

Dan

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> **···**
>
> > -----Original Message-----  
> > From: Austin Ziegler [mailto:halostatue@gmail.com]  
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 7:53 PM  
> > To: ruby-talk ML  
> > Subject: Re: A little idiom I like
> > 
> > On 9/6/06, Berger, Daniel \<Daniel.Berger@qwest.com\> wrote:  
> > \> Indeed. This is why all paths generated using the  
> > pathname2 package  
> > \> convert all forward slashes to backslashes. Also, the  
> > various PathXXX  
> > \> functions do NOT work with forward slashes.
> > 
> > Inasmuch as is possible, where Ruby provides these, it should  
> > hide this distinction. I would hate to have to enter \\ every  
> > time I wanted to put two files together. (It would also  
> > increase the mismatch between Ruby Windows and everywhere  
> > else, so the more we can hide that the more portable we make Ruby.)
> > 
> > -austin