how to use chdir('') and chdir(undef) deprecated with Perl 5.8.8

[E5o]

Greetings

I have been using a Perl script bax (http://www.smalltime.com/gene/bax.html) to do backups for years on my OSX box.

Please bear in mind, I am no programmer as such.

But when I try it on my linux box it gives me this error message:


chdir('') and chdir(undef) are deprecated

After some reading on Perl.org I get this:

Using chdir('') or chdir(undef) instead of explicit chdir() is doubtful. A failure (think chdir(some_function()) can lead into unintended chdir() to the home directory, therefore this behaviour is deprecated.

So, my question is: How can I use chdir(' ') the correct way in Perl 5.8.8?

Thank you

[Mr. C.]

The chdir command with a undef value would change directories to the running user's home directory.

Perhaps you want the home directory of the running user:


chdir ("$ENV{'HOME'}");

or place the name of correct home directory as a parameter, as in :


chdir ('/home/mydir');

MrC

[E5o]

Thank you for the reply.

I got an answer back from the author the other day.


replace this line near the top:

use Cwd;
with:

use Cwd qw(getcwd);

Then replace this line in make_backup:

my $cwd = cwd();
with:

my $cwd = getcwd();

I tried it and it worked.

Although I think this solution may be related to this particular script and not a universal solution. Anyway I good now.

Cheers E5o