file(1)                                                      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.

             file classifies files containing supplementary code set
             characters according to the locale specified in the LC_CTYPE
             environment variable [see LANG on environ(5)].  file reads
             each argument and can distinguish data files, program text
             files, shell scripts, and executable files as follows:








                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1

      file(1)                                                      file(1)


         Files                                                 Classification
         ____________________________________________________________________
         Data files containing supplementary characters        data
         Shell scripts containing supplementary characters     command text
         Language program text files containing literals       xxx text
         or comments using supplementary characters
         Executable files                                      executable

      FILES
            /etc/magic
            /usr/lib/locale/locale/LC_MESSAGES/uxcore
                  language-specific message file [See LANG on environ(5).]

      REFERENCES
            filehdr(4)

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




























                          Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 2