c++ filesystem The system cannot find the path specified

Question

Where's the problem really? This path exists, but the program fails .

I want to know the cause of this problem?

    const std::filesystem::directory_options options = (
    std::filesystem::directory_options::follow_directory_symlink |
    std::filesystem::directory_options::skip_permission_denied
    );

try
{
    for (const auto& dirEntry :
        std::filesystem::recursive_directory_iterator("C:\\Users\\myuser",
            std::filesystem::directory_options(options)))
    {

        std::cout << dirEntry.path().generic_string() << std::endl;


    }

}
catch (std::filesystem::filesystem_error & fse)
{
    std::cout << fse.what() << std::endl;
}

C:/Users/myuser/Contacts/{857B728B-5B31-4F94-B832-522DF52E4335}/VertiPaq_68547BCEF3A344CDA3CE/724C7FC1B3284E4BBE1C.3.db/Model.193.cub/Cuentas por Cobrar_f7776207-ea17-4002-8801-3561d1b2d1fc.92.det/Cuentas por Cobrar_f7776207-ea17-4002-8801-3561d1b2d1fc.23.prt recursive_directory_iterator::operator++: The system cannot find the path specified.

Please post the whole code needed for reproduction of your problem, see stackoverflow.com/help/minimal-reproducible-example — Superlokkus
– Superlokkus, Commented Nov 29, 2019 at 10:43

Superlokkus · Accepted Answer · 2019-11-29 10:47:47Z

3

The problem is probably that std::filesystem can only be a portable abstraction of the implementations actual file system. According to your path, I assume you are using Microsoft Windows.

So the problem is clear: Your path is to long: Its 260 visible characters plus the invisible end/null/termination character. This is bigger than MAX_PATH, see this documentation.

In the Windows API (with some exceptions discussed in the following paragraphs), the maximum length for a path is MAX_PATH, which is defined as 260 characters.A local path is structured in the following order: drive letter, colon, backslash, name components separated by backslashes, and a terminating null character.

edited Nov 29, 2019 at 10:47

answered Nov 29, 2019 at 10:39

Superlokkus

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5 Comments

MrErfan Over a year ago

Thank you, so how do I fix this problem?

Superlokkus Over a year ago

Not using so long paths, or requiring Windows 10 Version 1607 or later and using the Windows API directly, with all the needed extra steps for enabling as described in the link I posted, which would be too much for a SO post.

MrErfan Over a year ago

Is there any way that I skip it?

Superlokkus Over a year ago

As I said the only options: A) Don't use such long paths B) Don't use windows C) Use at the mentioned Windows 10 version and the linked steps D) Use some other language/runtime/library which uses another API or does the steps of C for you, if there is any

Superlokkus Over a year ago

D2) Try the Unicode work arounds in the posted link Please don't forget to accept the answer.

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