Directory Summary Command

canuck_barlow · 03-01-2005, 11:44 AM

Is there a command that will provide the number of files in a given directory?

pharmd · 03-01-2005, 11:49 AM

"ls" maybe?..i dont think that gives number of files just lists all the files

canuck_barlow · 03-01-2005, 11:50 AM

I don't I can use ls for this. I've tried the different types ls but they don't work.

dsegel · 03-01-2005, 12:04 PM

ls -l | wc -l

Actually that'll give you 1 more than the total number of files since it includes the 'total' line at the top in the count.

GoodVibrations · 03-01-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dsegel
ls -l | wc -l

Actually that'll give you 1 more than the total number of files since it includes the 'total' line at the top in the count.

That's why you should just use ls | wc -l

(In Aix at least. Guess it's the same with Linux. Writing this in Windows, and I don't want to boot my Sarge up to test it

)

dsegel · 03-01-2005, 12:54 PM

I'm a purist. 'ls' alone works, but it doesn't look like it should.

I suppose 'ls -1' (that's a one, not an ell)would both work properly and meet my condition of "looking" right as well.

GoodVibrations · 03-01-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dsegel
I'm a purist. 'ls' alone works, but it doesn't look like it should.

You pipe ls to wc, so you won't see the output of ls at all

dsegel · 03-01-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodVibrations
You pipe ls to wc, so you won't see the output of ls at all

I know it's there.

GoodVibrations · 03-01-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dsegel
I know it's there.

You are a purist!