[GNU find version 4.2.27] find: paths must precede expression

mechagojira · 07-05-2011, 09:34 PM

I have difficulties with the "find" command. Maybe I'm just not understanding really how to use it.

Let's say I am searching for all files with the extension "xsc":

Code:

[prompt]$ find ~ -name *.xsc 
/home/mechagojira/project/foobar.xsc

Okay works. Now I want to search for all files ending with "xsc" and maybe followed by something else, this gives me this error message:

Code:

[prompt]$ find ~ -name *.xsc*
find: paths must precede expression
Usage: find [-H] [-L] [-P] [path...] [expression]

Why does this not work?

I'm using
GNU find version 4.2.27
on
CentOS release 5 (Final)

bigrigdriver · 07-05-2011, 10:21 PM

Here's one explanation: http://www.programmersheaven.com/use...de-expression/

knudfl · 07-06-2011, 01:39 AM

*

find ~ -name *.xsc* : Use quotes → → find ~ -name "*.xsc*"

MTK358 · 07-06-2011, 05:34 AM

knudfl's solution is correct.

What's happening it that bash is interpreting the wildcards (in your case, turning them into a list of all files matching "*.xsc*" in the current directory) before passing them to find.