How can I change my current directory in a c program?

Question

I'm new in c programming and I'm asking for a simple way to change my current directory in a programm. I tried to use system("new path") but it didn't work.

How would you do it in the terminal? BTW, show your code and explain what is "_not working_" — Spikatrix, Sep 08 '15 at 10:58

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:01

0

The reason it is not working is that system is starting a separate process, changing its working directory, then exiting. Your program needs to change its own directory by calling chdir.

answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:01

stark

12,615
3
33
50

i tried also chdir("new path") and it isn't working either and i'm working at windows – Stergiospaok Sp Sep 08 '15 at 11:03
You can't change the user's directory from a separate program. The program can only change its own directory. After it exits the user command line is still in the same dirr. – stark Sep 08 '15 at 11:06
Well, CD does it by changing its parent's directory. – stark Sep 08 '15 at 11:10
i told you i tried system("cd new path") and it's not working – Stergiospaok Sp Sep 08 '15 at 11:12
Because system starts a separate process. – stark Sep 08 '15 at 11:13
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2375003/how-do-i-set-the-working-directory-of-the-parent-process – stark Sep 08 '15 at 11:22

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:10

If you're using a unix based OS, use chdir(). For windows you'll have to use _chdir(), although an alias chdir exists, it is deprecated.

Both the functions return 0 on success and -1 if an error occurred.

You can only change the directory in which the program executes. You can't change the working directory of your shell.

How can I change my current directory in a c program?

2 Answers2