Online Algebra Calculator
Many of users do not use powerful Maxima computer algebra system for systematic work, but for ad hoc algebraic calculations – equations, functions, matrixes, etc. only. To do this job, it is not useful to download the whole application from a web site.
Function: file_search (<filename>)

Function: file_search (<filename>, <pathlist>) file_search searches for the file <filename> and returns the path to the file (as a string) if it can be found; otherwise file_search returns false. file_search (<filename>) searches in the default search directories, which are specified by the file_search_maxima, file_search_lisp, and file_search_demo variables.
file_search first checks if the actual name passed exists, before attempting to match it to "wildcard" file search patterns. See file_search_maxima concerning file search patterns.
The argument <filename> can be a path and file name, or just a file name, or, if a file search directory includes a file search pattern, just the base of the file name (without an extension). For example,
file_search ("/home/wfs/special/zeta.mac"); file_search ("zeta.mac"); file_search ("zeta");
all find the same file, assuming the file exists and /home/wfs/special/###.mac is in file_search_maxima.
file_search (<filename>, <pathlist>) searches only in the directories specified by <pathlist>, which is a list of strings. The argument <pathlist> supersedes the default search directories, so if the path list is given, file_search searches only the ones specified, and not any of the default search directories. Even if there is only one directory in <pathlist>, it must still be given as a one-element list.
The user may modify the default search directories. See file_search_maxima.
file_search is invoked by load with file_search_maxima and file_search_lisp as the search directories.
There are also some inexact matches for file_search. Try ?? file_search to see them.
(%o1) true (%i2)