# 2.3 `macfs` -- Various file system services

Availability: Macintosh.

Deprecated since release 2.3. The macfs module should be considered obsolete. For `FSSpec`, `FSRef` and `Alias` handling use the Carbon.File or Carbon.Folder module. For file dialogs use the `EasyDialogs` module.

This module provides access to Macintosh FSSpec handling, the Alias Manager, finder aliases and the Standard File package.

Whenever a function or method expects a file argument, this argument can be one of three things: (1) a full or partial Macintosh pathname, (2) an `FSSpec` object or (3) a 3-tuple `(wdRefNum, parID, name)` as described in Inside Macintosh: Files. An `FSSpec` can point to a non-existing file, as long as the folder containing the file exists. Under MacPython the same is true for a pathname, but not under unix-Pyton because of the way pathnames and FSRefs works. See Apple's documentation for details.

A description of aliases and the Standard File package can also be found there.

`FSSpec`( | file)

  Create an `FSSpec` object for the specified file.

`RawFSSpec`( | data)

  Create an `FSSpec` object given the raw data for the C structure for the `FSSpec` as a string. This is mainly useful if you have obtained an `FSSpec` structure over a network.

`RawAlias`( | data)

  Create an `Alias` object given the raw data for the C structure for the alias as a string. This is mainly useful if you have obtained an `FSSpec` structure over a network.

`FInfo`( | )

  Create a zero-filled `FInfo` object.

`ResolveAliasFile`( | file)

  Resolve an alias file. Returns a 3-tuple `(fsspec, isfolder, aliased)` where fsspec is the resulting `FSSpec` object, isfolder is true if fsspec points to a folder and aliased is true if the file was an alias in the first place (otherwise the `FSSpec` object for the file itself is returned).

`StandardGetFile`( | [type, ...])

  Present the user with a standard ``open input file'' dialog. Optionally, you can pass up to four 4-character file types to limit the files the user can choose from. The function returns an `FSSpec` object and a flag indicating that the user completed the dialog without cancelling.

`PromptGetFile`( | prompt[, type, ...])

  Similar to `StandardGetFile()` but allows you to specify a prompt which will be displayed at the top of the dialog.

`StandardPutFile`( | prompt[, default])

  Present the user with a standard ``open output file'' dialog. prompt is the prompt string, and the optional default argument initializes the output file name. The function returns an `FSSpec` object and a flag indicating that the user completed the dialog without cancelling.

`GetDirectory`( | [prompt])

  Present the user with a non-standard ``select a directory'' dialog. You have to first open the directory before clicking on the ``select current directory'' button. prompt is the prompt string which will be displayed at the top of the dialog. Return an `FSSpec` object and a success-indicator.

`SetFolder`( | [fsspec])

  Set the folder that is initially presented to the user when one of the file selection dialogs is presented. fsspec should point to a file in the folder, not the folder itself (the file need not exist, though). If no argument is passed the folder will be set to the current directory, i.e. what `os.getcwd()` returns.

  Note that starting with system 7.5 the user can change Standard File behaviour with the ``general controls'' control panel, thereby making this call inoperative.

`FindFolder`( | where, which, create)

  Locates one of the ``special'' folders that MacOS knows about, such as the trash or the Preferences folder. where is the disk to search, which is the 4-character string specifying which folder to locate. Setting create causes the folder to be created if it does not exist. Returns a `(vrefnum, dirid)` tuple.

  The constants for where and which can be obtained from the standard module Carbon.Folders.

`NewAliasMinimalFromFullPath`( | pathname)

  Return a minimal `alias` object that points to the given file, which must be specified as a full pathname. This is the only way to create an `Alias` pointing to a non-existing file.

`FindApplication`( | creator)

  Locate the application with 4-character creator code creator. The function returns an `FSSpec` object pointing to the application.

Subsections

- 2.3.1 FSSpec Objects
- 2.3.2 Alias Objects
- 2.3.3 FInfo Objects