file(1)                        DG/UX 5.4R3.00                        file(1)


NAME
       file - determine file type

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

DESCRIPTION
       file performs a series of tests on each file supplied by arg and,
       optionally, on each file supplied in ffile in an attempt to classify
       it.  If arg appears to be a text file, file examines the first 512
       bytes and tries to guess its programming language.  If arg is an
       executable a.out, file prints the version stamp, provided it is
       greater than 0.  If arg is a symbolic link, by default the link is
       followed and file tests the file that the symbolic link references.


       -c    Check the magic file for format errors.  For reasons of
             efficiency, this validation is normally not carried out.

       -f ffile
             ffile contains the names of the files to be examined.

       -h    Do not follow symbolic links.

       -m mfile
             Use mfile as an alternate magic file, instead of /etc/magic.

       file uses /etc/magic to identify files that have a magic number.  A
       magic number is a numeric or string constant that indicates the file
       type.  Commentary at the beginning of /etc/magic explains its format.

   International Features
       file can classify files containing characters from supplementary code
       sets.  file reads each argument and can distinguish data files,
       program text files, shell scripts and executable files as follows:

       Files                          Classification
       ----------------------------------------------
       Data files containing          data
       supplementary characters

       Shell scripts containing       command text
       supplementary characters

       Language program text files    xxx text
       containing literals or
       comments using supplementary
       characters

       Executable files               executable





Licensed material--property of copyright holder(s)                         1

file(1)                        DG/UX 5.4R3.00                        file(1)


EXAMPLES
       $ file file1
       file1:          commands text

       Since file1 contains DG/UX shell commands (i.e. it is a script file),
       the file command gives the type as "commands text".

       $ file -f filenames
       file1:          commands text
       file2:          ascii text
       file3:          c program text
       file4:          DG m88k pure executable

       The file filenames contained the names of four files.

FILES
       /etc/magic

DIAGNOSTICS
       If the -h option is specified and arg is a symbolic link, file prints
       the error message:

              symbolic link to arg

SEE ALSO
       filehdr(4).































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