bibtex8 could not handle _absolute_ windows paths

[Pfiffikus]

Running bibtex8, i.e.

This is 8-bit Big BibTeX version 0.99d
Implementation:  Microsoft(R) C/C++ for Win32
Release version: 3.71 (18 mar 2013)

bibtex8 -d all "P:\test.aux"

fails with

D-I/O: open_ip_file: trying to open `P:/test.aux' ...
D-I/O: open_op_file: trying to open `P:\test.blg' ...
open_op_file: error opening `P:\test.blg'
I couldn't open file name `P:\test.blg'

while

bibtex8 -d all miktex-portable-2.9.6753\test.aux

runs smoothly from console.

[edocevoli]

No log files, no input files...

[Pfiffikus]

No log files, no input files ...

yes, log file could NOT be written ... and any input would show that result!

But for the sake of order check yourself if the attachment helps!
bibtex8.zip

[edocevoli]

Thank you. I was able to reproduce it.

As it turns out, this is a feature (not a bug): by default, absolute file writes are not allowed (for security reasons). It is possible to change this behavior this by setting [Core]AllowUnsafeOutputFiles=t. But I do not recommend it.

[Pfiffikus]

What a pity, that no error message gives a clue :(

[edocevoli]

Indeed. The next MiKTeX version shows a message like this:

bibtex8: file not writable for security reasons: P:\test.blg