file(1)               UNIX System V(Essential Utilities)                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.

FILES
      /etc/magic

SEE ALSO
      filehdr(4) in the System Administrator's Reference Manual.

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

            symbolic link to arg











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