Reading filename in multiple OS without encoding problem with Ruby

Question

I want to get all filenames in UTF-8. For example, after I read filename in Windows, I do

filename = Iconv.iconv("UTF-8", "Windows-1251", filename)

In Ubuntu I don't convert filename and get it in UTF-8. Maybe exists some method to determine OS filename encoding?

What version of Ruby are you using? (1.8.x versus 1.9.x makes a big difference when talking about encoding and string handling) — Phrogz, Mar 30 '11 at 17:20
Currently I use Ruby 1.8, but I can move on Ruby 1.9. So my question actually for both versions. But I don't work with Ruby 1.9. — Mikhail K., Mar 31 '11 at 04:23
Be careful, most OS support various encoding for their FS. For example, Windows does support UTF-16 ( cf http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2050973/what-encoding-are-filenames-in-ntfs-stored-as ) — Oct, Apr 26 '11 at 22:08

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 24 '11 at 20:34

I do this on Ruby 1.9 when I want to make sure things are in UTF-8:

if filename.encoding.to_s != 'UTF-8'
  filename.encode!('UTF-8')
end

Unless your OS gives a file name encoded with a coding system which doesn't support some special characters found on the file name, it can be encoded to UTF-8 without a hickup.

Reading filename in multiple OS without encoding problem with Ruby

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