NAME¶
explain_link - explain 
link(2) errors
SYNOPSIS¶
#include <libexplain/link.h>
 
const char *explain_link(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
 
const char *explain_errno_link(int errnum, const char *oldpath, const char
  *newpath);
 
void explain_message_link(char *message, int message_size, const char *oldpath,
  const char *newpath);
 
void explain_message_errno_link(char *message, int message_size, int errnum,
  const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
DESCRIPTION¶
These functions may be used to obtain explanations for errors returned by the
  
link(2) system call.
explain_link¶
const char *explain_link(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
The 
explain_link function is used to obtain an explanation of an error
  returned by the 
link(2) system call. The least the message will contain
  is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and
  indicate the underlying cause in more detail.
The 
errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be
  decoded.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following
  example:
if (link(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
{
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_link(oldpath, newpath));
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
 
  - oldpath
 
  - The original oldpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - newpath
 
  - The original newpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - Returns:
 
  - The message explaining the error. This message buffer is
      shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their
      argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain
      function which shares this buffer, including other threads.
 
Note: This function is 
not thread safe, because it shares a return
  buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.
explain_errno_link¶
const char *explain_errno_link(int errnum, const char *oldpath, const char
  *newpath);
The 
explain_errno_link function is used to obtain an explanation of an
  error returned by the 
link(2) system call. The least the message will
  contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it will do much better,
  and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following
  example:
if (link(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
{
    int err = errno;
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_link(err, oldpath, newpath));
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
 
  - errnum
 
  - The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the
      errno global variable just before this function is called. This is
      necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to
      be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the
      value of errno.
 
  - oldpath
 
  - The original oldpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - newpath
 
  - The original newpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - Returns:
 
  - The message explaining the error. This message buffer is
      shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their
      argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain
      function which shares this buffer, including other threads.
 
Note: This function is 
not thread safe, because it shares a return
  buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.
explain_message_link¶
void explain_message_link(char *message, int message_size, const char *oldpath,
  const char *newpath);
The 
explain_message_link function may be used to obtain an explanation of
  an error returned by the 
link(2) system call. The least the message
  will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much
  better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.
The 
errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be
  decoded.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following
  example:
if (link(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
{
    char message[3000];
    explain_message_link(message, sizeof(message), oldpath, newpath);
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
 
  - message
 
  - The location in which to store the returned message. If a
      suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread
    safe.
 
  - message_size
 
  - The size in bytes of the location in which to store the
      returned message.
 
  - oldpath
 
  - The original oldpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - newpath
 
  - The original newpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
explain_message_errno_link¶
void explain_message_errno_link(char *message, int message_size, int errnum,
  const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
The 
explain_message_errno_link function may be used to obtain an
  explanation of an error returned by the 
link(2) system call. The least
  the message will contain is the value of strerror(errnum), but usually it will
  do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.
This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following
  example:
if (link(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
{
    int err = errno;
    char message[3000];
    explain_message_errno_link(message, sizeof(message), err,
        oldpath, newpath);
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
 
  - message
 
  - The location in which to store the returned message. If a
      suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread
    safe.
 
  - message_size
 
  - The size in bytes of the location in which to store the
      returned message.
 
  - errnum
 
  - The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the
      errno global variable just before this function is called. This is
      necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to
      be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the
      value of errno.
 
  - oldpath
 
  - The original oldpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
  - newpath
 
  - The original newpath, exactly as passed to the
      link(2) system call.
 
SEE ALSO¶
  - link(2)
 
  - make a new name for a file
 
  - explain_link_or_die(3)
 
  - make a new name for a file and report errors
 
COPYRIGHT¶
libexplain version 0.52
 
Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller