NAME

       explain_symlink - explain symlink(2) errors

SYNOPSIS

       #include <libexplain/symlink.h>
       const char *explain_symlink(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
       const char *explain_errno_symlink(int errnum, const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
       void  explain_message_symlink(char  *message, int message_size, const char *oldpath, const
       char *newpath);
       void explain_message_errno_symlink(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char
       *oldpath, const char *newpath);

DESCRIPTION

       These functions may be used to obtain explanations for symlink(2) errors.

   explain_symlink
       const char *explain_symlink(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);

       The  explain_symlink function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the
       symlink(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 (symlink(oldpath, rewpath) < 0)
              {
                  fprintf(stderr, '%s0, explain_symlink(oldpath, newpath));
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       oldpath The original oldpath, exactly as passed to the symlink(2) system call.

       newpath The original newpath, exactly as passed to the symlink(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_symlink
       const char *explain_errno_symlink(int errnum, const char *oldpath, const char * newpath);

       The explain_errno_symlink function is used to obtain an explanation of an  error  returned
       by  the  symlink(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 (symlink(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
              {
                  int err = errno;
                  fprintf(stderr, '%s0, explain_errno_symlink(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 symlink(2) system call.

       newpath The original newpath, exactly as passed to the symlink(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_symlink
       void explain_message_symlink(char *message, int message_size, const char  *oldpath,  const
       char *newpath);

       The explain_message_symlink function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned
       by the symlink(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]fP 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 (symlink(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
              {
                  char message[3000];
                  explain_message_symlink(message, sizeof(message), oldpath,
                      newpath);
                  fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
              }

       message The location in which to store the returned message.   Because  a  message  return
               buffer has been 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 symlink(2) system call.

       newpath The original newpath, exactly as passed to the symlink(2) system call.

   explain_message_errno_symlink
       void explain_message_errno_symlink(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, const char
       *oldpath, const char *newpath);

       The explain_message_errno_symlink function is used to obtain an explanation  of  an  error
       returned  by  the symlink(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 (symlink(oldpath, newpath) < 0)
       {
           int err = errno;
           char message[3000];
           explain_message_errno_symlink(message, sizeof(message), err,
               oldpath, newpath);
           fprintf(stderr, '%s0, message);
           exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
       }

       message The  location  in  which  to store the returned message.  Because a message return
               buffer has been 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 symlink(2) system call.

       newpath The original newpath, exactly as passed to the symlink(2) system call.

COPYRIGHT

       libexplain version 1.4
       Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

AUTHOR

       Written by Peter Miller <pmiller@opensource.org.au>

                                                                               explain_symlink(3)