[SOLVED] find command won't find files

peter7089 · 01-10-2022, 03:44 PM

I have a case in which i am trying to find files that have specific word in their names but for some reason it doesn't work. This is just example of how i use the 'find' command and i don't know why it won't find the file:

Code:

user@mx:~/Downloads/Torrent
$ ll
total 16K
-rwx------ 1 user user 14K Feb 19  2021 'Ubuntu Mate.torrent'
user@mx:~/Downloads/Torrent
$ find . -name Ubuntu
user@mx:~/Downloads/Torrent
$ find . -iname Ubuntu
user@mx:~/Downloads/Torrent

shruggy · 01-10-2022, 03:47 PM

Use a glob with -name

Code:

find -name Ubuntu\*

See 2.2.1 Base Name Patterns in the GNU Findutils manual.

boughtonp · 01-10-2022, 03:49 PM

Because -name specifies a pattern that must match the whole filename (excluding path).

i.e. use "find . -name 'Ubuntu*'" for filenames that start with Ubuntu.

larstrier · 01-10-2022, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter7089

Code:

$ find . -name Ubuntu

Code:

$ find . -iname Ubuntu

You're not using the 'quote marks' and the "double quote" marks correctly.

See how boughtonp uses it effortlessly:

Code:

i.e. use "find . -name 'Ubuntu*'" for filenames that start with Ubuntu.

Use the quote marks when seeking directories with the 'find' command

chrism01 · 01-10-2022, 10:54 PM

In other words, surround match with single quote marks (') to prevent shell interpolation of wildcard chars like '*'

Code:

find . -name 'Ubuntu*'

which matches names that start with Ubuntu and in exact case sensitivity.
Case in-sensitive uses '-iname' instead of '-name'
The man page is pretty comprehensive eg https://linux.die.net/man/1/find ; loads(!) of options for tweaking the find cmd.