Determining if a file is binary or text

Cyth · 02-24-2003, 12:02 PM

Hi all,

In a shell script I need to determine whether a file is a binary or a pure text file. The test has to be 100% reliable.

Any ideas?

cheers!
Cyth

Tinkster · 02-24-2003, 12:51 PM

First of all, unlike DOS/Windoze, Linux and other Unixes
don't distinguish between binary and text in (file) streams.

That said, have a look at

Code:

man file

and understand that the 100% reliability
is your own duty by modifying/extending

Code:

man magic

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Tink

Cyth · 02-27-2003, 08:31 AM

Yes I've had a look at the file utility but I find it hard getting exact output even if I tell it to output in standard RFC format(forgot it's name, not on a linux computer while writing this). It's not consistent in it's output..

cheers,
Frans

Tinkster · 02-27-2003, 12:36 PM

The alternative would be for you to come up
with a tool yourself, one that maintains a database
and prompts you if a new format is encountered...

Pretty much an "intelligent agent" tool, shouldn't
be too hard ;)

Cheers,
Tink