# Newbie question - how to get current directory into a variab **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [15 October 2007 23:53 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411 "2007-10-15T23:53:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Vanderhaden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Peter\_Vanderhaden](https://rubytalk.org/u/Peter_Vanderhaden)\ **Post date:** [15 October 2007 23:53 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/1 "2007-10-15T23:53:23Z")
I'm running Ruby on Ubuntu Linux, and I need to be able to get the current directory that the program is running in into a variable in my program. Is there a simple way to do this? Also, is there a way to change directories within the program? Thanks.... > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Hunter4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tim\_Hunter4](https://rubytalk.org/u/Tim_Hunter4)\ **Post date:** [16 October 2007 00:24 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/2 "2007-10-16T00:24:55Z")
Peter Vanderhaden wrote: > I'm running Ruby on Ubuntu Linux, and I need to be able to get the > current directory that the program is running in into a variable in my > program. Is there a simple way to do this? Also, is there a way to > change directories within the program? > Thanks.... Check out the Dir class, particularly Dir.pwd and Dir.chdir, > **···** > > -- > RMagick OS X Installer [[http://rubyforge.org/projects/rmagick/\](http://rubyforge.org/projects/rmagick/%5C)] > RMagick Hints & Tips [[http://rubyforge.org/forum/forum.php?forum\_id=1618\](http://rubyforge.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=1618%5C)] > RMagick Installation FAQ [[http://rmagick.rubyforge.org/install-faq.html\](http://rmagick.rubyforge.org/install-faq.html%5C)] ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Vanderhaden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Peter\_Vanderhaden](https://rubytalk.org/u/Peter_Vanderhaden)\ **Post date:** [16 October 2007 00:36 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/3 "2007-10-16T00:36:44Z")
Thanks Tim. the Dir.pwd is exactly what I need. I haven't figured out how to use the Dir.chdir yet, but that looks promising too. PV Tim Hunter wrote: > **···** > > > Peter Vanderhaden wrote: > > > > > I'm running Ruby on Ubuntu Linux, and I need to be able to get the > > > current directory that the program is running in into a variable in my > > > program. Is there a simple way to do this? Also, is there a way to > > > change directories within the program? > > > Thanks.... > > > > Check out the Dir class, particularly Dir.pwd and Dir.chdir, > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![7stud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/57b2e6/32.png) [@7stud](https://rubytalk.org/u/7stud)\ **Post date:** [16 October 2007 03:43 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/4 "2007-10-16T03:43:22Z")
Peter Vanderhaden wrote: > Thanks Tim. the Dir.pwd is exactly what I need. I haven't figured out > how to use the Dir.chdir yet, but that looks promising too. p Dir.entries(".") #array containing files in current directory puts Dir.chdir("../") #relative path p Dir.entries(".") puts Dir.chdir("/Users/me/Documents/ruby") #absolute path p Dir.entries(".") > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Janus\_Bor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Janus\_Bor](https://rubytalk.org/u/Janus_Bor)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2008 12:07 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/5 "2008-07-14T12:07:42Z")
Sorry for raising this thread from the dead! 7stud -- wrote: > p Dir.entries(".") #array containing files in current directory > puts Will this work on Windows, too? Or is the "." a Linux specific thing? If it doesn't work on Windows, how can I get the absolute path of the scipt? Thanks! > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Bass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Dave\_Bass](https://rubytalk.org/u/Dave_Bass)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2008 14:44 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/6 "2008-07-14T14:44:00Z")
Janus Bor wrote: > > p Dir.entries(".") #array containing files in current directory > > puts > > Will this work on Windows, too? Or is the "." a Linux specific thing? Works for me (WinXP, Ruby 1.8.6-111). Both "." and ".." work fine on Windows. Dave > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Willis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Sean\_Willis](https://rubytalk.org/u/Sean_Willis)\ **Post date:** [28 August 2008 20:34 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/newbie-question-how-to-get-current-directory-into-a-variab/41411/7 "2008-08-28T20:34:08Z")
Thought I'd keep this one going! Using Dir.chdir() I have no problem changing to directories created by my rails application, however, I can't get it to change to a directory that I made. I tried adding "config.load\_paths += %W( #{RAILS\_ROOT}/public/my\_new\_folder" to my environment.rb file, but it didn't work. When should I be using config.load\_paths? Any ideas? Thanks! > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/).