The ftw function recursively searches the directory hierarchy that descends from the directory specified by the path argument. The path argument can be specified in OpenVMS style or UNIX style. For each file in the hierarchy, ftw calls the function specified by the function argument, passes it a pointer to a null- terminated character string containing the name of the file, a pointer to a stat structure containing information about the file, and an integer. The integer identifies the file type. Possible values, defined in <ftw.h> are: FTW_F Regular file. FTW_D Directory. FTW_DNR Directory that cannot be read. FTW_NS A file on which stat could not successfully be executed. If the integer is FTW_DNR, then the files and subdirectories contained in that directory are not processed. If the integer is FTW_NS, then the stat structure contents are meaningless. For example, a file in a directory for which you have read permission but not execute (search) permission can cause the function argument to pass FTW_NS. The ftw function finishes processing a directory before processing any of its files or subdirectories. The ftw function continues the search until: o The directory hierarchy specified by the path argument is completed. o An invocation of the function specified by the function argument returns a nonzero value. o An error (such as an I/O error) is detected within the ftw function. Because the ftw function is recursive, it is possible for it to terminate with a memory fault because of stack overflow when applied to very deep file structures. The ftw function uses the malloc function to allocate dynamic storage during its operation. If ftw is forcibly terminated, as with a call to longjmp from the function pointed to by the function argument, ftw has no chance to free that storage. It remains allocated. A safe way to handle interrupts is to store the fact that an interrupt has occurred, and arrange to have the function specified by the function argument return a nonzero value the next time it is called. NOTES o The ftw function is reentrant; make sure that the function supplied as argument function is also reentrant. o The C RTL supports a standard-compliant definition of the stat structure and associated definitions. To use them, compile your application with the _USE_STD_STAT feature- test macro defined. See the <stat.h> header file on your system for more information. o The ftw function supports UNIX style path name specifications. See also malloc, longjump, and stat.