FILE(C)                              UNIX System V



     Name
          file - determines file type


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


     Description
          The file command performs a series of tests on each argument
          in  an attempt to classify it.  If an argument appears to be
          ASCII, file examines the first 512 bytes and tries to  guess
          its  language.   If an argument is an executable a.out, file
          will print the version stamp, provided it is greater than 0.

          -c   The -c option 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 -c.

          -f   If the -f option is given, the next argument  is  taken
               to  be  a  file containing the names of the files to be
               examined.

          -m   The -m option instructs file to use an alternate  magic
               file.

          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.


     Files
          /etc/magic


     See Also
          filehdr(F)


     Standards Conformance
          file is conformant with:
          AT&T SVID Issue 2, Select Code 307-127;
          and The X/Open Portability Guide II of January 1987.


     (printed 2/15/90)                                    FILE(C)