[SOLVED] Viewing Multiple Files with the less command

Hi_This_is_Dev · 04-14-2010, 04:38 PM

Hi,

When we view multiple files using less, how to go on to the next file?

I gave these two commands:

Code:

[root@localhost log]# ls -lt boot.log*
-rw------- 1 root root 0 Apr 11 04:02 boot.log
-rw------- 1 root root 0 Apr  4 04:02 boot.log.1
-rw------- 1 root root 0 Apr  1 19:14 boot.log.2
-rw------- 1 root root 0 Mar 21 04:02 boot.log.3
-rw------- 1 root root 0 Mar 14 04:02 boot.log.4

[root@localhost log]# less boot.log*

This is what I got:

Code:

boot.log (file 1 of 5) (END) - Next: boot.log.1 <RETURN>
(END) - Next: boot.log.1

I could not view boot.log.2.

Any tricks?

troop · 04-14-2010, 04:50 PM

man less

Code:

       :n     Examine the next file (from the list of files given in the command line).  If a number N is specified, the  N-th  next  file  is
              examined.

       :p     Examine the previous file in the command line list.  If a number N is specified, the N-th previous file is examined.

pixellany · 04-14-2010, 04:50 PM

Keep hitting **---it will go thru all the files in order.

In your example, note that all those files are empty---thus you'll not be viewing anything.....

** Sorry, I was thinking of "more"--see the other (better) answer

Hi_This_is_Dev · 04-14-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troop

man less

Code:

       :n     Examine the next file (from the list of files given in the command line).  If a number N is specified, the  N-th  next  file  is
              examined.

       :p     Examine the previous file in the command line list.  If a number N is specified, the N-th previous file is examined.

It works!

Code:

[root@localhost bin]# less *

date +%H:%M:%S
~
~
~
~
~
showTime.sh (file 2 of 2) (END)