System for automatically altering environment variable to run proper executable file by removing references to all except one duplicate file in the path sequence

• US 7,013,455 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Joey Allen, Ku, William Hsiao-Yu, Wang, John Shih-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Lilian
• Application Number:
  US09/690,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/101, 718/106, 709/200, 717/121, 717/176, 717/174, 717/175, 717/127, 717/168, 717/169, 714/38, 713/2
• US Class Current: 717/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for correcting a path sequence of an environment variable in a data processing system is provided. In one embodiment, an environment variable manager monitors the data processing system for any change effecting any of the environment variables within the data processing system. If a change effecting the environment variable is detected, the environment variable manager modifies the environment variable to ensure that a proper file is found and used when the file is selected by a user or a running application program. Therefore, when duplicate files exist on the data processing system, the environment variable manager ensures that the incorrect file is not used when the file is requested by a user or a running application program.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for correcting a path sequence of an environment variable in a data processing system, the path sequence specifying an order for searching a plurality of different directories for locating executable code within the data processing system, the method comprising:

monitoring the data processing system for a change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, wherein the environment variable is enabled and being used by the data processing system to specify the order for searching the plurality of different directories within the data processing system;

responsive to detection of the change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, determining whether any duplicate files exist in any of the directories identified by the path sequence;

responsive to determining that duplicate files do exist, automatically altering the path sequence of the environment variable to ensure that a proper executable file is found and executed when selected by one of a user and a running application program, wherein the step of altering the path sequence of the environment variable comprises removing references to all but one of duplicate files in the path sequence of the environment variable; and

after altering the path sequence, using the altered path sequence to find and execute the proper executable file.

2. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the all but one duplicate file is selected by a user.

3. A computer program product tangibly-embodied in a tangible computer readable media for use in a data processing system for correcting a path sequence of an environment variable in a data processing system, the path sequence specifying an order for searching a plurality of different directories for locating executable code within the data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for monitoring the data processing system for a change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, wherein the environment variable is enabled and being used by the data processing system to specify the order for searching the plurality of different directories within the data processing system;

second instructions, responsive to detection of the change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, for determining whether any duplicate files exist in any of the directories identified by the path sequence;

third instructions, responsive to determining that duplicate files do exist, for automatically altering the path sequence of the environment variable to ensure that a proper executable file is found and executed when selected by one of a user and a running application program, wherein the instructions for altering the path sequence of the environment variable comprises removing references to all but one of duplicate files in the path sequence of the environment variable; and

fourth instructions, responsive to altering the path sequence, for using the altered path sequence to find and execute the proper executable file.

4. The computer program product as recited in claim 3, wherein the all but one duplicate file is selected by a user.

5. A system for correcting a path sequence of an environment variable in a hardware data processing system, the path sequence specifying an order for searching a plurality of different directories for locating executable code within the data processing system, the system comprising:

first means for monitoring the hardware data processing system for a change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, wherein the environment variable is enabled and being used by the hardware data processing system to specify the order for searching the plurality of different directories within the hardware data processing system;

second means, responsive to detection of the change effecting the path sequence of the environment variable, for determining whether any duplicate files exist in any of the directories identified by the path sequence;

third means, responsive to determining that duplicate files do exist, for automatically altering the path sequence of the environment variable to ensure that a proper executable file is found and executed when selected by one of a user and a running application program, wherein the means for altering the path sequence of the environment variable comprises removing references to all but one of duplicate files in the path sequence of the environment variable; and

fourth means, responsive to altering the path sequence, for using the altered path sequence to find and execute the proper executable file.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the all but one duplicate file is selected by a user.