Linux in a Nutshell, Fifth Edition

find | 155

Linux

Commands

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-s Check files that are block or character special files in addition

to checking ordinary files.

-v Print the version.

-z Attempt checking of compressed files.

Many file types are understood. Output lists each filename,

followed by a brief classification such as:

ascii text

c program text

c-shell commands

data

empty

iAPX 386 executable

directory

[nt]roff, tbl, or eqn input text

shell commands

symbolic link to ../usr/etc/arp

Example

List all files that are deemed to be troff/nroff input:

file * | grep roff

find

find [pathnames] [conditions]

An extremely useful command for finding particular groups of files

(numerous examples follow this description). find descends the

directory tree beginning at each pathname and locates files that

meet the specified conditions. The default pathname is the current

directory. The most useful conditions include -name and -type

(for general use), -exec and -size (for advanced use), and -mtime

and -user (for administrators).

Conditions may be grouped by enclosing them in \( \) (escaped

parentheses), negated with !, given as alternatives by separating

them with -o, or repeated (adding restrictions to the match; usually

only for -name, -type,or-perm). Note that “modification” refers to

editing of a file’s contents, whereas “change” means a modifica- ...