2.9.8. Viewing Contents of Text Files¶

Linux for Programmers and Users, Section 3.15

2.9.8.1. Viewing Complete Files¶

cat [options][file-list]

See also

Creating a File

2.9.8.2. Viewing files One Page at a Time¶

2.9.8.2.1. more¶

more: View file contents one page at a time. Use space bar to advance; b key to go backwards. Advance passed the end of a file or type q to exit.

SYNOPSIS

more file

2.9.8.2.2. less¶

less: A newer, alternatire to more to view file contents one page at a time. Use space bar or f to advance; b key to go backwards. Searching within a file is much like vi (/ or ?) Use q to exit.

SYNOPSIS

less file

2.9.8.3. Viewing the Head or Tail of a File¶

2.9.8.3.1. head¶

head: Output the fist part of files

SYNOPSIS

head [option] [FILE] …

-n, --lines=[-]N¶: print the first N lines instead of the first 10; with the leading -, print all but the last N lines of each file

2.9.8.3.2. tail¶

tail: Output the last part of files

SYNOPSIS

tail [option] [file-list]

-n, --lines=N¶: print the last N lines instead of the last 10

-f¶: output appended data as the file grows