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.  For COFF
     executables, the version stamp will give the version of compilers used to
     generate the executable.  For ELF executables, the version stamp gives
     the version of ELF to which the file conforms.  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 LCCTYPE 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:

                   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





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file(1)                                                                file(1)



                   Executable files               executable

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










































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