Special character in filename

Question

I have many special characters in a filename e.g., ./CaMKII-8+PP1-32+L-125e-9+N-5+diff-0.1e-12.dat_processed.csv. I want to write this filename in a footnote. To make matter worse, this filename is stored in a macro e.g., \edef\fiename\{./CaMKII-8+PP1-32+L-125e-9+N-5+diff-0.1e-12.dat_processed.csv}.

When I try to print it using \texttt{\fileName}, I run into a 'missing $ inserted' issue. If I use \verb!\fileName!, it just prints \fileName (it's not expanded.)

How to get the filename printed in my pdf?

Answer 1

If the file name is stored in a macro, you can exploit \detokenize:

\newcommand{\fileName}{}% just to see it can be used
\edef\fileName{\detokenize{./CaMKII-8+PP1-32+L-125e-9+N-5+di‌​ff-0.1e-12.dat_proce‌​ssed.csv}}

This will have no consequence when \fileName is used for reading a file.

Note that you need \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} for the underscore to print when not in a \ttfamily or \texttt context. It will print fine with \texttt{\fileName}.