file(1)                                                   file(1)



NAME
     file - determines the type of a file

SYNOPSIS
     file [-c] [-f ffile] [-m mfile] arg...

ARGUMENTS
     arg  Specifies the argument that will be tested by the file
          command.

     -c   Causes file to check the magic file for format errors.
          This validation is not normally carried out for reasons
          of efficiency.  No file typing is done under the -c
          option.

     -f ffile
          Specifies the file containing the names of the files to
          be examined.

     -m mfile
          Instructs file to use an alternate magic file.

DESCRIPTION
     file performs a series of tests on each file named in its
     arguments in an attempt to classify it.  If the file appears
     to be ASCII, file examines the first 512 bytes and tries to
     guess its language.  If a file is an executable a.out file,
     file will print the version stamp, provided it is greater
     than 0 (see ld(1)).

     The file command uses the file /etc/magic to identify files
     that have some sort of ``magic number,'' that is, any file
     containing a numeric or string constant that indicates its
     type.  Commentary at the beginning of /etc/magic explains
     its format.

EXAMPLES
     The command:

        file text-file program-file directory

     reports the filenames and directory name, and whether the
     files are English text, nroff input, a C program, or
     whatever.

FILES
     /bin/file
          Executable file
     /etc/magic
          Executable file





January 1992                                                    1

file(1)                                                   file(1)



SEE ALSO
     ld(1)

     magic(4) in A/UX Programmer's Reference



















































2                                                    January 1992