CAT Command

ouncya · 08-21-2007, 04:32 PM

Hi Friends,

I have created file using CAT command. File name "-r". It accepted. When I tried to see the contents using the command " cat <filename>", I couldn't see. Can any one help me?

syg00 · 08-21-2007, 05:17 PM

Try "cat -- -r"
And then maybe rename it; use the same trick.

ouncya · 08-21-2007, 06:00 PM

hey friend,

Thanks a lot. It's working... :-)

pixellany · 08-21-2007, 07:45 PM

Moral:
don't create files with funny names.

Another trick:
To access a file with a funny name, add the full path. In your example--eg: "cat /home/username/-r". This works for cat, mv, etc.

SlowCoder · 08-21-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

Moral:
don't create files with funny names.

Another trick:
To access a file with a funny name, add the full path. In your example--eg: "cat /home/username/-r". This works for cat, mv, etc.

Pixellany,
Could you also use quotes around the filename, rather than the full path?

stress_junkie · 08-21-2007, 08:50 PM

Another way to access files with funny names is to use a GUI file manager.

pixellany · 08-21-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowCoder

Pixellany,
Could you also use quotes around the filename, rather than the full path?

I am fuzzy on this...My comment is based on a situation posted here some months ago. The only solution that I could think of was using the full path.

I think it depends on what funny character gets into the funny filename...let's say you have a character that looks like an option to a command like mv or cp. Quoting won't help--because that only protects the funny character from bash.

Ok, here's one:
touch somedir/-R
This creates the file "-R" in somedir. Now go into somedir and try to make a copy.

chrism01 · 08-21-2007, 10:47 PM

I've found using single quotes works to rm or mv funny named files.

pixellany · 08-21-2007, 11:47 PM

Neither single nor double quotes will work in my example. The key is that "-R" has special meaning to the cp command. any kind of quotes simply serves to insure that the "-R" gets to the cp command without bash interfering.

ouncya · 08-24-2007, 11:42 AM

hey friends,

Is there any other way to open the file "-r" rather than "cat -- -r"?

syg00 · 08-25-2007, 02:44 AM

Starting to sound like homework.

ouncya · 08-26-2007, 12:48 AM

hey friends,

I found another way.

cat ./-r

It works... :-)