Files with a "-" in them

glj · 09-24-2002, 03:35 AM

One of the programs I use on my RH box has created files that are called things like "-access". If I try and edit them in vi, or delete them I can't as the programs think that the filename I'm supplying are command line arguments.

How do I see what's in them???

glj

unSpawn · 09-24-2002, 04:54 AM

Put quotes around the filename. Some apps also take the argument "--" as the end of arguments, expecting everything after it to be filenames.
A overview of the file's contents can be provided with "file", and attributes with "stat". Running "strings" on the file can also show the contents, but can garble your tty. Try "stty sane" to unfsck your tty then.

glj · 09-24-2002, 08:52 AM

Cheers

The quotes didn't work, but "--" did.

glj