I have a set of files in a directory [unfortunately with a different name]. I would like to search for a pattern amongst these. I know which are the files I am searching in. My question is, how do I feed egrep these multiple file names.

Say, a directory has files a, b, c, d and e.

I am searching for the patterns "hello" and "how" in the files b, c, and e. How do I use the egrep command to go about it.

What is that <something>?

PS: An alternate solution using a different command is also welcome, provided it is a single command.

Easy enough:

egrep -h "hello|how" a b c d e

Most of the standard commands let you specify multiple filenames.

Thanks buddy! How strange the mind fails to identify things which are just too obvious. Thanks a lot anyway!