[SOLVED] Prune not exculding directory while finding files based on size

Rohit_4739 · 01-28-2013, 05:53 AM

Hi,

I am trying to find files with size more than 5 megs but excluding some particular using prune, how the code is not working and directoris are not getting excluded. Below is my code

Code:

# find / -xdev  -type f -size +5M  | xargs ls -l

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 17992154 Aug  7 23:12 /etc/test1
-rw------- 1 root root 14123295 Aug  7 23:12 /etc/test2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 17752583 Aug  7 23:08 /etc/test3
-rw------- 1 root root 14069493 Aug  7 23:08 /etc/test4
-r--r--r-- 1 root root  5811146 Jan 20  2012 /lib64/test5

Below is the code when i use prune

Code:

find / -xdev \( -path './lib64/' -prune \) -o -type f -size +5M  | xargs ls -l

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 17992154 Aug  7 23:12 /etc/test1
-rw------- 1 root root 14123295 Aug  7 23:12 /etc/test2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 17752583 Aug  7 23:08  /etc/test3
-rw------- 1 root root 14069493 Aug  7 23:08 /etc/test4
-r--r--r-- 1 root root  5811146 Jan 20  2012 /lib64/test5

So can anyone suggest what i am missing or doing wrong here.

colucix · 01-28-2013, 06:49 AM

The path of the directory to exclude (given as argument to -path) should be exactly the same as the path seen by find. Since it starts the search from the / directory, it should start with / as well and it should not have the trailing slash:

Code:

-path /lib64

Moreover, the rule about -prune is "if the expression contains no actions other than -prune, -print is performed on all files for which the expression is true". In your command you have no other actions and if you provide a correct path to exclude (as shown above) the name of the directory /lib64 will still be shown. You have to add at least the default action -print explicitly if you want to see the correct output.

Finally there is no need of escaped parentheses in this case, hence your command line should read:

Code:

find / -xdev -path '/lib64' -prune -o -type f -size +5M -print

Hope this helps.

Rohit_4739 · 01-29-2013, 12:18 AM

I totally agree with you and it does helped me, however i am having some doubt in understanding below

Quote:

Originally Posted by colucix

Moreover, the rule about -prune is "if the expression contains no actions other than -prune, -print is performed on all files for which the expression is true". In your command you have no other actions and if you provide a correct path to exclude (as shown above) the name of the directory /lib64 will still be shown. You have to add at least the default action -print explicitly if you want to see the correct output.

1. "if the expression contains no actions other than -prune, -print is performed on all files for which the expression is true" ? Could you please tell me what is the exact order in which the above conditions in "find command" gets executed. I see the below output and in that /lib64 is printed at last; why is that since it is appearing before in "find command" shouldn't it be printed first.

Code:

 find / -xdev -path '/lib64' -prune -o -type f -size +5M

/etc/test1
/etc/test2
/etc/test3
/etc/test4
/lib/test5
/lib64

2. If print is anyway the default action then why to specify it explicitly ?

rknichols · 01-29-2013, 10:02 AM

[QUOTE=Rohit_4739;4879595]

Code:

 find / -xdev -path '/lib64' -prune -o -type f -size +5M

/etc/test1
/etc/test2
/etc/test3
/etc/test4
/lib/test5
/lib64

In that expression, "-prune" will be TRUE for the directory "/lib64", and therefore the entire expression is TRUE and you get the default action of "-print".

Code:

 find / -xdev -path '/lib64' -prune -o -type f -size +5M -print

This expression does contain an action other than "-prune", and your explicit "-print" will only occur when the second term of the expression is matched.

It becomes clearer if you add the implied parentheses:

Code:

 find / -xdev \( -path '/lib64' -prune \) -o \( -type f -size +5M -print \)

Quote:

2. If print is anyway the default action then why to specify it explicitly ?

See above.