Re: Start_Process_Search error detection

[Jacob Sparre Andersen <sparre@nbi.dk>]

David Shochat <shochatd@yahoo.com> writes:

> Posix/Ada, package Posix_Process_Primitives, includes a procedure
> Start_Process_Search which searches for the requested program using
> the value of the PATH environment variable. My question is, how do
> you detect that the search failed (or will fail)? The package spec
> we have is virtually devoid of documentation. Checking the returned
> process id does not work. I get a nonzero process id even when I
> pass a fictitious name.  Also, no exception is raised. I could parse
> $PATH and check each directory, but there must be a better way. This
> is Apex on Solaris.

I haven't got any documentation either, but the Florist implementation
of POSIX.Process_Primitives.Start_Process_Search will give you a
negative value in the formal parameter Child, if the creation of a new
process failed.  If the creation didn't fail, you can use
POSIX.Process_Primitives.Wait_For_Chilt_Process to see if the child
process exited with the status Failed_Creation_Exit.

Greetings,

Jacob
-- 
"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!"