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-   -   'all files' switch for grep? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/all-files-switch-for-grep-814026/)

maf9222 06-14-2010 05:16 AM
'all files' switch for grep?
 
If I type 'grep alias .bashrc' a whole load of stuff comes up. However, if I type 'grep alias *' nothing comes up. Is there some switch for including 'hidden' files - like the -a switch for ls?

jlinkels 06-14-2010 05:53 AM
Not known according to the man page. But
Code:
grep alias .* *
works.

jlinkels

MTK358 06-14-2010 07:30 AM
The wildcards are expanded by the shell, not by grep.

If you have a directory containing these files:

Code:
.hidden
.hidden2
file
another
And you entered this:

Code:
grep alias *
The shell actually expands the '*' and grep sees this:

Code:
grep alias file another
By default '*' doesn't include files starting with a dot. You can explicitly put a dot before the asterisk to get hidden files only. Or both ".* *" to get all files.


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