/non/existant/path(:h)

[Sebastian Stark <seb-zsh@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

In zshexpn(1) it says:

  Modifiers
      After the optional word designator, you can add a sequence of  
one or more of the following
      modifiers, each preceded by a `:'.  These modifiers also work  
on the  result  of  filename
      generation and parameter expansion, except where noted.

      h      Remove a trailing pathname component, leaving the head.   
This works like `dirname'.

I say this is not exactly true since if you expand:

 $myvar(:h)

when myvar contains a path that does not exist it will expand to the  
empty string if nullglob is set or, if nullglob is unset, it will lead  
to an error. This is not very close to a replacement of dirname(1),  
like suggested by the manpage.

It could be that I missed something, as always. But I think the  
manpage should be more clear about that. On the other hand it would be  
nice if :h indeed worked as a replacement for dirname. Not sure if  
this can be achieved without too much hassle.


Sebastian