'all files' switch for grep?

maf9222 · 06-14-2010, 05:16 AM

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.