*strict-probe-file*

When given a pathname in a directory that is not readable by the user running the Lisp process (because, for example, the user does not have read permission in that directory), probe-file should signal an error. (The ANS says "An error of type file-error is signaled if the file system cannot perform the requested operation.") However, Allegro CL (in common with other implementations of Common Lisp) has returned nil rather than signaling an error. Therefore, there is no programmatic way to distinguish between a file not existing and a file possibly existing, but in a directory that cannot be read by the user running Lisp.

This variable, *strict-probe-file*, controls the behavior of probe-file in this case. When nil (its initial value), probe-file returns nil when the argument path designates a file in an unreadable directory, preserving the behavior of earlier releases. When *strict-probe-file* is non-nil, probe-file signals an error in that case. (It also reports on what the access problems are.)

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Created 2010.1.21.