[SOLVED] Find a file in directories without using find command

sikanders · 08-03-2010, 07:59 PM

Hi All,

I am new to linux and trying to find a file in sub directories using find command as:

find . -name *.jpg -type f

But I am unable to get the result as find command is not permitted by the server administrator.

Is there any way to find files without using find command. Kindly help........!!!

Thanks

kaz2100 · 08-03-2010, 08:11 PM

Hya,

I am not quite sure what is your purpose, however,

Code:

du -h

can seek into subdirectories.

Happy Penguins!

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-03-2010, 08:14 PM

Code:

ls -R | grep \.jpg

ls has the -R switch (recursive)

EDIT:

I should have thought further ahead on that. As written, it will show you the files, but not where they're located (i.e. full path). The below is better:

Code:

for i in $(ls -R | grep \.jpg); do echo "$(readlink -f "$i")"; done

EDIT 2: This still isn't that useful - it omits the directory tree below the $PWD :/

frankbell · 08-03-2010, 08:43 PM

Another thing to try:

whereis [filename]

Wildcards work in the filename, but, if your rights are sufficiently limited, it may not produce the desired results.

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-03-2010, 08:50 PM

Gahh!! I'm having a brainless evening here.. My earlier suggestions didn't work well; I tried frankbell's suggestion of `whereis`, and also `which`, but those didn't work. Finally I tried using `locate` and that worked

-- but like frankbell mentioned, `locate` will also not work right if you lack permissions.

Here's an example of something that works, provided you have the permissions:

Code:

sasha@reactor: for i in $(ls -R | grep Argentine); do locate "$i"; done
/home/sasha/Reptile_&_Snake/MISC_other_docs/Argentine_boas.info
/home/sasha/Reptile_&_Snake/snakies_pictures/Occidentalis/B.c.occidentalis.Argentine.2.jpg
/home/sasha/Reptile_&_Snake/snakies_pictures/Occidentalis/B.c.occidentalis.Argentine.3.jpg
/home/sasha/Reptile_&_Snake/snakies_pictures/Occidentalis/B.c.occidentalis.Argentine.jpg
sasha@reactor:

Phew

-- time for sleep I think.

Telengard · 08-03-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikanders

find command is not permitted by the server administrator.

What about the locate command?

Edit

I was too late with this :P

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-03-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telengard

What about the locate command?

Good grief

-- look at all the needless crap I've got wrapped around my `locate` command! Works great without all that junk

LMAO :/

Didn't I say it's bedtime?! Hehehe..

P.S. - Is this what they call "cannot see the forest for the trees" ? Or have I got the trees and the forest mixed up?

ghostdog74 · 08-03-2010, 09:01 PM

if your admin disables find, most probably tools like locate, whereis etc are also disabled ( except if admin only knows about find which i doubt). Then you can just use the shell. (bash, ksh etc)

See here for example

By the way, if there is a policy to restrict commands, why are circumventing it ? If you really need to find your files, then ask your admin to show you how.

Telengard · 08-03-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdog74

here

That looks like the most promising solution so far. I do think du -h would probably work though, unless the admin was very thorough.

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-03-2010, 09:08 PM

I agree - and clicked "helpful" accordingly. Now I'll just go back to searching the forest for trees.

sikanders · 08-04-2010, 09:35 PM

Hi All...

Thanks for replying! It helped me a lot in other problems also, but if I want to get the list of all the ".jpg" files then how shoul I proceed, as there are number of sub directories....!!

ghostdog74 · 08-04-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikanders

Hi All...

Thanks for replying! It helped me a lot in other problems also, but if I want to get the list of all the ".jpg" files then how shoul I proceed, as there are number of sub directories....!!

show what you have done so far.

sikanders · 08-04-2010, 11:20 PM

I just tried du -h then it showed the file size and listed all the directories, but I need to find out all the ".jpg" images existing in different sub folders and copy them to a single folder at one place... Kindly help me in this!

sikanders · 08-05-2010, 12:15 AM

Here's an example of something that works, provided you have the permissions:
[code]
sasha@reactor: for i in $(ls -R | grep Argentine); do locate "$i"; done

Hey.......!!! Thanks a lot it helped me.....

Using this I found all my .jpg files as:

for i in $(ls -R); do locate "*.jpg" /absolute/path/to/parent/directory; done

Also can you please help me again.......I want to find path to "sik" directory or file wherever existing in sub directories.

Thanks

frankbell · 08-06-2010, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the locate command. That's new one to me. I'm looking forward to trying it.

Aside: The downside of choice is that there are sooooo many choices.