This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Reference Section
ls Command Switches
--all (or -a)—Shows all files, including . and ..
--almost-all (or -A)—Shows all files except . and ..
--block-size=n—Shows the size of files as n-byte blocks
--classify (or -F)—Appends a symbol to a filename to indicate its type
--color=t—Uses color for filenames, t equals never, always, or auto.
--dereference (or -L)—Shows items referenced by symbolic links
--directory (or -d)—Shows information about a directory instead of showing its contents
--dired (or -D)—Output for emacs dired mode
--escape (or -b)—Prints octal escape sequences for unprintable characters
--file-type (or -p)—Same as --classify
--format=across (or -x)—Sorts by lines instead of columns
--format=commas (or -m)—Shows filenames as a list separated by commas
--format=long (or -l)—Shows detailed (long) listings
--format=single-column (or -1)—Shows results as one file per line
--format=verbose—Same as the long format
--format=vertical (or -C)—Lists entries by columns
--full-time—Shows full date and time
--hide-control-chars (or -q)—Displays a ? for unprintable characters in filenames
--human-readable (or -h)—Shows sizes in kilobytes, megabytes, and so on, instead of raw bytes
--ignore=p (or -I)—Ignores files matching the pattern p
--ignore-backups (or -B)—Does not list files ending with ~
--indicator-style=classify—Same as --classify
--indicator-style=none—Don't classify files
--indicator-style=file-type—Same as --file-type
--inode (or -i)—Prints the inode number for the file
--kilobytes (or -k)—Same as block size 1024
-f—Does not sort, enable -aU, disable -lst
--literal (or -N)—Shows unprintable characters in names as-is (unlike -q)
--no-group (or -G)—Hides the group that owns the file
--numeric-uid-gid (or -n)—Shows UIDs and GIDs as numbers not names
-o—Shows long listings without the file group ownership information
--quote-name (or -Q)—Encloses filenames in double quotes
--quoting-style=literal—Same as --literal
--quoting-style=locale—Uses locale's quoting style around individual filenames
--quoting-style=shell—Uses shell quoting when necessary around individual filenames
--quoting-style=shell-always—Always uses shell quoting around individual filenames
--quoting-style=c—Uses C string quoting around individual filenames
--quoting-style=escape—Escapes special characters with backslashes
--reverse (or -r)—Reverses the sorting order
--recursive (or -R)—Lists the contents of all subdirectories
--si (or -h)—Similar to --human-readable, but uses powers of 1000 instead of 1024
--size (or -s)—Prints the size in blocks
--sort=size (or -S)—Sorts by file size
--sort=extension (or -X)—Sorts by filename suffix
--sort=none (or -U)—Sorts by the order the files are physically stored in their directory
--sort=time (or -t)—Sorts by time. By default, --time=ctime
--sort=version (or -v)—Sorts alphabetically, taking into account GNU version number conventions
--time=atime (or –u)—Sorts by access time
--time=access—Same as atime
--time=use—Same as ctime
--time=ctime (or -c)—Shows change time; sorts by change time if -t
--time=status—Same as ctime
--tabsize=n (or -T)—Assumes Tab stops are every n characters instead of eight characters
--width=n (or -w)—Assumes screen is n characters wide instead of what it actually is
printf Formatting Codes
%b—Expands backslash sequences
%c—Displays a single character
%d—Displays a signed number
%e—Displays a floating-point number, exponential (also called scientific) notation
%f—Displays a floating-point number
%g—Uses %f or %e depending on the value
%i—Same as %d
%o—Displays an octal number
%q—Quotes the string so it can be read properly by a shell script
%s—Displays an unquoted string
%u—Displays an unsigned number
%x—Displays an unsigned hexadecimal number, using lowercase letters
%X—Displays an unsigned hexadecimal number, using uppercase letters
%%—Displays a percent sign
printf Backslash Codes
\b—Backspace
\f—Form feed (that is, eject a page on a printer)
\n—Start a new line
\r—Carriage return
\t—Tab
\v—Vertical tab
\'—Single quote character (for compatibility with C)
\\—Backslash
\0n—n is an octal number representing an 8-bit ASCII character
rm Command Switches
--directory (or -d)—Removes the directory
--force (or -f)—Never prompts the user and ignores missing files
--interactive (or -i)—Always prompts the user
--recursive (or -r or -R)—remove contents of all subdirectories
cp Command Switches
--archive (or -a)—Same as -dpR
--backup (or -b)—Makes a backup of any existing file before overwriting by adding a ~ to the name
--backup=none/off—Never makes numbered backups
--backup=numbered/t—Always makes numbered backups
--backup=existing/nul—Makes numbered backups if they already exist; otherwise make tilde backups
--backup=simple/never—Always makes tilde backups
--no-dereference (or -d)—Preserves links
--force (or -f)—Never prompts the user; always overwrites
--interactive (or -i)—Always prompts the user
--link (or -l)—Creates a hard link instead of copying
--preserve (or -p)—Preserves file attributes and ownership if possible
--parents (or -P)—Appends the source path to the destination directory
--recursive (or -R)—Copies any subdirectories
-r—Similar to --recursive, but doesn't include special handling of pipes and other files that cannot be copied properly
--sparse=w—Truncates sparse files (w=never), creates them in full (w=always), or truncates at the command's discretion (w=auto, default).
--strip-trailing-slashes—Removes trailing slashes from the pathnames of the files to copy
--symbolic-link (or -s)—Creates a symbolic link instead of copying
--suffix=s (or -S s)—Replaces pathname suffix with new suffix s
--target-directory=d—Copies files to directory d
--update (or -u)—Overwrites old files or copies missing files
--one-file-system (or -x)—Stays on the current file system
mv Command Switches
--backup (or -b)—Makes a backup of any existing file before overwriting by adding a ~ to the name
--backup=none/off—Never makes numbered backups
--backup=numbered/t—Always makes numbered backups
--backup=existing/nul—Make numbered backups if they already exist; otherwise make tilde backups
--backup=simple/never—Always make tilde backups
--force (or -f)—Never prompts the user; always overwrites
--interactive (or -i)—Always prompts the user
--strip-trailing-slashes—Removes trailing slashes from the pathnames of the files to copy
--suffix=s (or -S)—Replaces pathname suffix with new suffix s
--target-directory=d—Copies files to directory d
--update (or -u)—Overwrites old files or copies missing files