# kdecore Library API Documentation

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# KStandardDirs Class Reference

Site-independent access to standard KDE directories. More...

`#include <kstandarddirs.h>`

Collaboration diagram for KStandardDirs:

[legend]
List of all members.

## Public Member Functions

| KStandardDirs ()
| KStandardDirs' constructor.
virtual | ~KStandardDirs ()
| KStandardDirs' destructor.
void | addPrefix (const QString &dir)
| Adds another search dir to front of the `fsstnd` list.
bool | addResourceType (const char *type, const QString &relativename)
| Adds suffixes for types.
bool | addResourceDir (const char *type, const QString &absdir)
| Adds absolute path at the end of the search path for particular types (for example in case of icons where the user specifies extra paths).
QString | findResource (const char *type, const QString &filename) const

Tries to find a resource in the following order:

- All PREFIX/ paths (most recent first).

bool | isRestrictedResource (const char *type, const QString &relPath=QString::null) const
| Checks whether a resource is restricted as part of the KIOSK framework.
Q_UINT32 | calcResourceHash (const char *type, const QString &filename, bool deep) const
| Returns a number that identifies this version of the resource.
QStringList | findDirs (const char *type, const QString &reldir) const
| Tries to find all directories whose names consist of the specified type and a relative path.
QString | findResourceDir (const char *type, const QString &filename) const
| Tries to find the directory the file is in.
QStringList | findAllResources (const char *type, const QString &filter=QString::null, bool recursive=false, bool uniq=false) const
| Tries to find all resources with the specified type.
QStringList | findAllResources (const char *type, const QString &filter, bool recursive, bool uniq, QStringList &relPaths) const
| Tries to find all resources with the specified type.
void | addKDEDefaults ()
| This function adds the defaults that are used by the current KDE version.
bool | addCustomized (KConfig *config)
| Reads customized entries out of the given config object and add them via addResourceDirs().
QStringList | resourceDirs (const char *type) const
| This function is used internally by almost all other function as it serves and fills the directories cache.
QStringList | allTypes () const
| This function will return a list of all the types that KStandardDirs supports.
QString | saveLocation (const char *type, const QString &suffix=QString::null, bool create=true) const
| Finds a location to save files into for the given type in the user's home directory.
QString | relativeLocation (const char *type, const QString &absPath)
| Converts an absolute path to a path relative to a certain resource.
QString | kfsstnd_prefixes ()
QString | localkdedir () const
| Returns the toplevel directory in which KStandardDirs will store things.

## Static Public Member Functions

QString | findExe (const QString &appname, const QString &pathstr=QString::null, bool ignoreExecBit=false)
| Finds the executable in the system path.
int | findAllExe (QStringList &list, const QString &appname, const QString &pathstr=QString::null, bool ignoreExecBit=false)
| Finds all occurences of an executable in the system path.
bool | makeDir (const QString &dir, int mode=0755)
| Recursively creates still-missing directories in the given path.
QString | kde_default (const char *type)
| This returns a default relative path for the standard KDE resource types.
bool | exists (const QString &fullPath)
| Checks for existence and accessability.
QString | realPath (const QString &dirname)
| Expands all symbolic links and resolves references to '/./', '/../' and extra '/' characters in `dirname` and returns the canonicalized absolute pathname.

## Related Functions

(Note that these are not member functions.)
QString | locate (const char *type, const QString &filename, const KInstance *instance=KGlobal::instance())
QString | locateLocal (const char *type, const QString &filename, const KInstance *instance=KGlobal::instance())

## Detailed Description

Site-independent access to standard KDE directories.

Author:
  Stephan Kulow <coolo@kde.org> and Sirtaj Singh Kang <taj@kde.org>

Version:
  Id
    kstandarddirs.h,v 1.100.2.1 2003/01/08 16:15:51 waba Exp

This is one of the most central classes in kdelibs as it provides a basic service: It knows where the files reside on the user's hard disk. And it's meant to be the only one that knows -- to make the real location as transparent as possible to both the user and the applications.

To this end it insulates the application from all information and applications always refer to a file with a resource type (e.g. icon) and a filename (e.g. khexdit.xpm). In an ideal world the application would make no assumption where this file is and leave it up to KStandardDirs::findResource("apps", "Home.desktop") to apply this knowledge to return /opt/kde/share/applnk/Home.desktop or ::locate("data", "kgame/background.jpg") to return /opt/kde/share/apps/kgame/background.jpg

The main idea behind KStandardDirs is that there are several toplevel prefixes below which the files lie. One of these prefixes is the one where the user installed kdelibs, one is where the application was installed, and one is $HOME/.kde, but there may be even more. Under these prefixes there are several well defined suffixes where specific resource types are to be found. For example, for the resource type "html" the suffixes could be share/doc/HTML and share/doc/kde/HTML. So the search algorithm basicly appends to each prefix each registered suffix and tries to locate the file there. To make the thing even more complex, it's also possible to register absolute paths that KStandardDirs looks up after not finding anything in the former steps. They can be useful if the user wants to provide specific directories that aren't in his $HOME/.kde directory for, for example, icons.

Standard resources that kdelibs allocates are:

- apps - Applications menu (.desktop files).
- cache - Cached information (e.g. favicons, web-pages)
- cgi - CGIs to run from kdehelp.
- config - Configuration files.
- data - Where applications store data.
- exe - Executables in $prefix/bin. findExe for a function that takes $PATH into account.
- html - HTML documentation.
- icon - Icons, see KIconLoader.
- lib - Libraries.
- locale - Translation files for KLocale.
- mime - Mime types.
- module - Module (dynamically loaded library).
- qtplugins - Qt plugins (dynamically loaded objects for Qt)
- services - Services.
- servicetypes - Service types.
- scripts - Application scripting additions.
- sound - Application sounds.
- templates - Templates
- wallpaper - Wallpapers.
- tmp - Temporary files (specfic for both current host and current user)
- socket - UNIX Sockets (specific for both current host and current user)

A type that is added by the class KApplication if you use it, is appdata. This one makes the use of the type data a bit easier as it appends the name of the application. So while you had to ::locate("data", "appname/filename") so you can also write ::locate("appdata", "filename") if your KApplication instance is called "appname" (as set via KApplication's constructor or KAboutData, if you use the global KStandardDirs object KGlobal::dirs()). Please note though that you cannot use the "appdata" type if you intend to use it in an applet for Kicker because 'appname' would be "Kicker" instead of the applet's name. Therefore, for applets, you've got to work around this by using ::locate("data", "appletname/filename").

KStandardDirs supports the following environment variables:

- KDEDIRS: This may set an additional number of directory prefixes to search for resources. The directories should be seperated by ':'. The directories are searched in the order they are specified.
- KDEDIR: Used for backwards compatibility. As KDEDIRS but only a single directory may be specified. If KDEDIRS is set KDEDIR is ignored.
- KDEHOME: The directory where changes are saved to. This directory is used to search for resources first. If KDEHOME is not specified it defaults to "$HOME/.kde"
- KDEROOTHOME: Like KDEHOME, but used for the root user. If KDEROOTHOME is not set it defaults to the .kde directory in the home directory of root, usually "/root/.kde". Note that the setting of $HOME is ignored in this case.

See also:
  KGlobalSettings

Definition at line 125 of file kstandarddirs.h.

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

KStandardDirs::KStandardDirs | ( |  | ) |

| KStandardDirs' constructor. It just initializes the caches. Definition at line 77 of file kstandarddirs.cpp. References addKDEDefaults(), QDict< QString >::setAutoDelete(), and QDict< QStringList >::setAutoDelete().

KStandardDirs::~KStandardDirs | ( |  | ) | `[virtual]`

| KStandardDirs' destructor. Definition at line 86 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

## Member Function Documentation

void KStandardDirs::addPrefix | ( | const QString & | dir | ) |

Adds another search dir to front of the `fsstnd` list.

- When compiling kdelibs, the prefix is added to this.
- KDEDIRS or KDEDIR is taking into account
- Additional dirs may be loaded from kdeglobals.

Parameters:

  dir | The directory to append relative paths to.

Definition at line 134 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::at(), QDict< QStringList >::clear(), QString::isNull(), and QString::length().

Referenced by addCustomized(), and addKDEDefaults().

bool KStandardDirs::addResourceType | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | relativename
| ) |

Adds suffixes for types.

You may add as many as you need, but it is advised that there is exactly one to make writing definite. All basic types (kde_default) are added by addKDEDefaults(), but for those you can add more relative paths as well.

The later a suffix is added, the higher its priority. Note, that the suffix should end with / but doesn't have to start with one (as prefixes should end with one). So adding a suffix for app_pics would look like KGlobal::dirs()->addResourceType("app_pics", "share/app/pics");

Parameters:

  type | Specifies a short descriptive string to access files of this type.
  relativename | Specifies a directory relative to the root of the KFSSTND.

Returns:
  true if successful, false otherwise.

Definition at line 154 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References KStdAction::copy(), QDict< QStringList >::find(), QDict< QStringList >::insert(), QString::isNull(), and QDict< QStringList >::remove().

Referenced by addKDEDefaults().

bool KStandardDirs::addResourceDir | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | absdir
| ) |

Adds absolute path at the end of the search path for particular types (for example in case of icons where the user specifies extra paths).

You shouldn't need this function in 99% of all cases besides adding user-given paths.

Parameters:

  type | Specifies a short descriptive string to access files of this type.
  absdir | Points to directory where to look for this specific type. Non-existant directories may be saved but pruned.

Returns:
  true if successful, false otherwise.

Definition at line 176 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References KStdAction::copy(), QDict< QStringList >::find(), QDict< QStringList >::insert(), and QDict< QStringList >::remove().

Referenced by addCustomized(), and addKDEDefaults().

QString KStandardDirs::findResource | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | filename
| ) | const

Tries to find a resource in the following order:

- All PREFIX/ paths (most recent first).

- All absolute paths (most recent first).

The filename should be a filename relative to the base dir for resources. So is a way to get the path to libkdecore.la to findResource("lib", "libkdecore.la"). KStandardDirs will then look into the subdir lib of all elements of all prefixes ($KDEDIRS) for a file libkdecore.la and return the path to the first one it finds (e.g. /opt/kde/lib/libkdecore.la)

Parameters:

  type | The type of the wanted resource
  filename | A relative filename of the resource.

Returns:
  A full path to the filename specified in the second argument, or QString::null if not found.

Definition at line 196 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::at(), findResourceDir(), and QString::isNull().

Referenced by KLibLoader::findLibrary(), and locate().

bool KStandardDirs::isRestrictedResource | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | relPath = QString::null
| ) | const

Checks whether a resource is restricted as part of the KIOSK framework.

When a resource is restricted it means that user- specific files in the resource are ignored.

E.g. by restricting the "wallpaper" resource, only system-wide installed wallpapers will be found by this class. Wallpapers installed under the $KDEHOME directory will be ignored.

Parameters:

  type | The type of the resource to check
  relPath | A relative path in the resource.

Returns:
  True if the resource is restricted.

Since:
  3.1

Definition at line 92 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

Referenced by KConfigINIBackEnd::parseConfigFiles().

Q_UINT32 KStandardDirs::calcResourceHash | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | filename,
|  | bool | deep
| ) | const

Returns a number that identifies this version of the resource.

When a change is made to the resource this number will change.

Parameters:

  type | The type of the wanted resource
  filename | A relative filename of the resource.
  deep | If true, all resources are taken into account otherwise only the one returned by findResource().

Returns:
  A number identifying the current version of the resource.

Definition at line 231 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::at(), and resourceDirs().

QStringList KStandardDirs::findDirs | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | reldir
| ) | const

Tries to find all directories whose names consist of the specified type and a relative path.

So would findDirs("apps", "Settings") return

- /opt/kde/share/applnk/Settings/
- /home/joe/.kde/share/applnk/Settings/

Note that it appends / to the end of the directories, so you can use this right away as directory names.

Parameters:

  type | The type of the base directory.
  reldir | Relative directory.

Returns:
  A list of matching directories, or an empty list if the resource specified is not found.

Definition at line 257 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QDir::absPath(), QDir::exists(), resourceDirs(), and QDir::setPath().

QString KStandardDirs::findResourceDir | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | filename
| ) | const

Tries to find the directory the file is in.

It works the same as findResource(), but it doesn't return the filename but the name of the directory.

This way the application can access a couple of files that have been installed into the same directory without having to look for each file.

findResourceDir("lib", "libkdecore.la") would return the path of the subdir libkdecore.la is found first in (e.g. /opt/kde/lib/)

Parameters:

  type | The type of the wanted resource
  filename | A relative filename of the resource.

Returns:
  The directory where the file specified in the second argument is located, or QString::null if the type of resource specified is unknown or the resource cannot be found.

Definition at line 279 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References exists(), QString::isEmpty(), and resourceDirs().

Referenced by findResource().

QStringList KStandardDirs::findAllResources | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | filter = QString::null,
|  | bool | recursive = false,
|  | bool | uniq = false
| ) | const

Tries to find all resources with the specified type.

The function will look into all specified directories and return all filenames in these directories.

Parameters:

  type | The type of resource to locate directories for.
  filter | Only accept filenames that fit to filter. The filter may consist of an optional directory and a QRegExp wildcard expression. E.g. "images\*.jpg". Use QString::null if you do not want a filter.
  recursive | Specifies if the function should decend into subdirectories.
  uniq | If specified, only return items which have unique suffixes - suppressing duplicated filenames.

Returns:
  A list of directories matching the resource specified, or an empty list if the resource type is unknown.

Definition at line 513 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

Referenced by KLocale::allCountriesTwoAlpha(), and KPalette::getPaletteList().

QStringList KStandardDirs::findAllResources | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | filter,
|  | bool | recursive,
|  | bool | uniq,
|  | QStringList & | relPaths
| ) | const

Tries to find all resources with the specified type.

The function will look into all specified directories and return all filenames (full and relative paths) in these directories.

Parameters:

  type | The type of resource to locate directories for.
  filter | Only accept filenames that fit to filter. The filter may consist of an optional directory and a QRegExp wildcard expression. E.g. "images\*.jpg". Use QString::null if you do not want a filter.
  recursive | Specifies if the function should decend into subdirectories.
  uniq | If specified, only return items which have unique suffixes.
  list | Of relative paths for the given type.
  relPaths | The list to store the relative paths into These can be used later to locate() the file

Returns:
  A list of directories matching the resource specified, or an empty list if the resource type is unknown.

Definition at line 465 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::at(), QString::findRev(), QString::isEmpty(), QString::left(), QString::length(), QString::mid(), and resourceDirs().

QString KStandardDirs::findExe | ( | const QString & | appname,
|  | const QString & | pathstr = QString::null,
|  | bool | ignoreExecBit = false
| ) | `[static]`

Finds the executable in the system path.

A valid executable must be a file and have its executable bit set.

Parameters:

  appname | The name of the executable file for which to search.
  pathstr | The path which will be searched. If this is null (default), the $PATH environment variable will be searched.
  ignoreExecBit | If true, an existing file will be returned even if its executable bit is not set.

Returns:
  The path of the executable. If it was not found, it will return QString::null.

See also:
  findAllExe()

Definition at line 672 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::arg(), QFileInfo::exists(), QString::find(), QString::fromLatin1(), QString::fromLocal8Bit(), QDir::homeDirPath(), QFileInfo::isExecutable(), QFileInfo::isFile(), QFileInfo::isSymLink(), QString::length(), QString::local8Bit(), QString::mid(), QString::replace(), QFileInfo::setFile(), and QString::startsWith().

Referenced by resourceDirs().

int KStandardDirs::findAllExe | ( | QStringList & | list,
|  | const QString & | appname,
|  | const QString & | pathstr = QString::null,
|  | bool | ignoreExecBit = false
| ) | `[static]`

Finds all occurences of an executable in the system path.

Parameters:

  list | Will be filled with the pathnames of all the executables found. Will be empty if the executable was not found.
  appname | The name of the executable for which to search.
  pathstr | The path list which will be searched. If this is 0 (default), the $PATH environment variable will be searched.
  ignoreExecBit | If true, an existing file will be returned even if its executable bit is not set.

Returns:
  The number of executables found, 0 if none were found.

See also:
  findExe()

Definition at line 742 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QFileInfo::exists(), QFileInfo::isExecutable(), QFileInfo::isFile(), and QFileInfo::setFile().

void KStandardDirs::addKDEDefaults | ( |  | ) |

This function adds the defaults that are used by the current KDE version.

It's a series of addResourceTypes() and addPrefix() calls. You normally wouldn't call this function because it's called for you from KGlobal.

Definition at line 966 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References addPrefix(), addResourceDir(), addResourceType(), QFile::decodeName(), QDir::homeDirPath(), QString::isEmpty(), kde_default(), and QString::length().

Referenced by KStandardDirs().

bool KStandardDirs::addCustomized | ( | KConfig * | config | ) |

Reads customized entries out of the given config object and add them via addResourceDirs().

Parameters:

  config | The object the entries are read from. This should contain global config files

Returns:
  true if new config paths have been added from `config`.

Definition at line 1056 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References addPrefix(), addResourceDir(), QMap::begin(), QMap::end(), KConfig::entryMap(), KConfigBase::group(), KStdAccel::key(), QString::latin1(), KConfigBase::readBoolEntry(), KConfigBase::readListEntry(), QDict< QStringList >::remove(), resourceDirs(), KConfigBase::setGroup(), and QStringList::split().

Referenced by KInstance::config(), KInstance::dirs(), and KConfig::KConfig().

QStringList KStandardDirs::resourceDirs | ( | const char * | type | ) | const

This function is used internally by almost all other function as it serves and fills the directories cache.

Parameters:

  type | The type of resource

Returns:
  The list of possible directories for the specified `type`. The function updates the cache if possible. If the resource type specified is unknown, it will return an empty list. Note, that the directories are assured to exist beside the save location, which may not exist, but is returned anyway.

Definition at line 540 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QDir::cleanDirPath(), QFile::decodeName(), QFile::encodeName(), QDir::exists(), QDict< QStringList >::find(), findExe(), QString::fromLatin1(), QDict< QStringList >::insert(), QString::isEmpty(), localkdedir(), realPath(), and QDir::setPath().

Referenced by addCustomized(), KIconLoader::addExtraDesktopThemes(), calcResourceHash(), findAllResources(), findDirs(), findResourceDir(), KIconTheme::KIconTheme(), KLocale::langLookup(), KIconTheme::list(), relativeLocation(), and saveLocation().

QStringList KStandardDirs::allTypes | ( |  | ) | const

This function will return a list of all the types that KStandardDirs supports.

Returns:
  All types that KDE supports

Definition at line 126 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::fromLatin1().

QString KStandardDirs::saveLocation | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | suffix = QString::null,
|  | bool | create = true
| ) | const

Finds a location to save files into for the given type in the user's home directory.

Parameters:

  type | The type of location to return.
  suffix | A subdirectory name. Makes it easier for you to create subdirectories. You can't pass filenames here, you _have_ to pass directory names only and add possible filename in that directory yourself. A directory name always has a trailing slash ('/').
  create | If set, saveLocation() will create the directories needed (including those given by `suffix`).

Returns:
  A path where resources of the specified type should be saved, or QString::null if the resource type is unknown.

Definition at line 840 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References KStdAction::create(), QFile::encodeName(), QDict< QStringList >::find(), QDict< QString >::find(), QDict< QString >::insert(), localkdedir(), makeDir(), realPath(), QDict< QStringList >::remove(), and resourceDirs().

Referenced by KConfigBackEnd::changeFileName(), and locateLocal().

QString KStandardDirs::relativeLocation | ( | const char * | type,
|  | const QString & | absPath
| ) |

Converts an absolute path to a path relative to a certain resource.

If "abs = ::locate(resource, rel)" then "rel = relativeLocation(resource, abs)" and vice versa.

Parameters:

  type | The type of resource.
  absPath | An absolute path to make relative.

Returns:
  A relative path relative to resource `type` that will find `absPath`. If no such relative path exists, absPath will be returned unchanged.

Definition at line 888 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::findRev(), QString::left(), QString::mid(), realPath(), resourceDirs(), and QString::startsWith().

Referenced by KDesktopFile::isAuthorizedDesktopFile().

bool KStandardDirs::makeDir | ( | const QString & | dir,
|  | int | mode = 0755
| ) | `[static]`

Recursively creates still-missing directories in the given path.

The resulting permissions will depend on the current umask setting. permission = mode & ~umask.

Parameters:

  dir | Absolute path of the directory to be made.
  mode | Directory permissions.

Returns:
  true if successful, false otherwise

Definition at line 910 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QString::at(), QFile::encodeName(), QString::find(), QString::length(), and QString::mid().

Referenced by KConfigINIBackEnd::parseConfigFiles(), saveLocation(), and KConfigINIBackEnd::sync().

QString KStandardDirs::kde_default | ( | const char * | type | ) | `[static]`

This returns a default relative path for the standard KDE resource types.

Below is a list of them so you get an idea of what this is all about.

- data - share/apps
- html - share/doc/HTML
- icon - share/icon
- config - share/config
- pixmap - share/pixmaps
- apps - share/applnk
- sound - share/sounds
- locale - share/locale
- services - share/services
- servicetypes - share/servicetypes
- mime - share/mimelnk
- wallpaper - share/wallpapers
- templates - share/templates
- exe - bin
- lib - lib

Returns:
  Static default for the specified resource. You should probably be using locate() or locateLocal() instead.

See also:
  locate()

  locateLocal()

Definition at line 799 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

Referenced by KIconLoader::addAppDir(), and addKDEDefaults().

QString KStandardDirs::localkdedir | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the toplevel directory in which KStandardDirs will store things.

Most likely $HOME/.kde Don't use this function if you can use locateLocal

Returns:
  the toplevel directory

Definition at line 1121 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

Referenced by resourceDirs(), and saveLocation().

bool KStandardDirs::exists | ( | const QString & | fullPath | ) | `[static]`

Checks for existence and accessability.

Faster than creating a QFileInfo first.

Parameters:

  fullPath | the path to check

Returns:
  true if the directory exists

Definition at line 307 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QFile::encodeName().

Referenced by KIconLoader::addExtraDesktopThemes(), findResourceDir(), KIconTheme::KIconTheme(), and KIconTheme::list().

QString KStandardDirs::realPath | ( | const QString & | dirname | ) | `[static]`

Expands all symbolic links and resolves references to '/./', '/../' and extra '/' characters in `dirname` and returns the canonicalized absolute pathname.

The resulting path will have no symbolic link, '/./' or '/../' components.

Since:
  3.1

Definition at line 523 of file kstandarddirs.cpp.

References QFile::decodeName(), and QFile::encodeName().

Referenced by relativeLocation(), resourceDirs(), and saveLocation().

The documentation for this class was generated from the following files:

- kstandarddirs.h
- kstandarddirs.cpp

This file is part of the documentation for kdelibs Version 3.1.5.
Documentation copyright © 1996-2002 the KDE developers.
Generated on Wed Jan 28 12:51:41 2004 by doxygen 1.3.4 written by Dimitri van Heesch, © 1997-2001