On 04/12/2013 08:06 AM, Bob Proulx wrote: > Some local wordsmithing turned out the following as a better > improvement. It lists what it does in the positive first. And > removes the negative which was seen as being too confusing. > > `-d' > `--directory' > List only the name of directories, not the contents. This is > most typically used with `-l' to list the information for the > directory itself instead of its contents. Do not follow symbolic > links unless the `--dereference-command-line' (`-H'), > `--dereference' (`-L'), or > `--dereference-command-line-symlink-to-dir' options are > specified. Overrides `--recursive', (`-R').
Not bad, but I'm still missing the point that `-d' changes ls's behavior for *directory arguments* only. Furthermore, I don't think mentioning `-l' is of much relevance here. So this would melt down the first two sentences as follows: `-d' `--directory' For directory arguments, list only the information for the directory itself instead of its contents. Do not follow symbolic links unless the `--dereference-command-line' (`-H'), `--dereference' (`-L'), or `--dereference-command-line-symlink-to-dir' options are specified. Overrides `--recursive', (`-R'). And what about the usage() string? I'd bet this is still 95% where users are looking for. Something like the following perhaps? - -d, --directory list directory entries instead of contents, - and do not dereference symbolic links + -d, --directory for directory arguments, list the entry itself + instead of contents, and do not dereference + symbolic links Have a nice day, Berny