Hi, Changing system variables (like ARG_MAX) may well work, but often has unknown side effects..
find . -type f -maxdepth 0 | xargs grep gsa is the command you want. Search the current directory, and report all entries of type file. For each entry, set up one instance of grep to run. ==================================== find . -name gr\* -maxdepth 0 | xargs grep gsa will search all files in the current directory whose name begins with the letters gr. ============================== You can also use the -exec option on find to do this, and do not need the xargs option. However, in my view, xargs is the more intuitively obvious method. ================================= If you removed the maxdepth 0 option, it will traverse down the directory tree searching for all matching files. Derek. ====================================================== On Wed, 3 Nov 2004, Matthew Gregan wrote: > At 2004-11-03T12:59:04+1300, Nick Rout wrote: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] cur $ grep gsa * > > -/bin/bash: /bin/grep: Argument list too long > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] cur $ ls|wc > > 4299 4299 339962 > > $ getconf ARG_MAX > 131072 > > 339962 > ARG_MAX. > > > on another box grep copes well with a directory of over 5000 files, > > albeit with 5 character file names. > > 25000 < ARG_MAX. > > > so, whats the easiest way to do what i want? > > The two Tims have anwswered this bit already. > > > I'd also be interested to know whether this is to do with the number > > of arguments, or the total number of characters in the argument list? > > It's the total number of characters. The limit (defined as ARG_MAX) > differs between systems; the system I am typing this on has an ARG_MAX > limit of 131072 and the OpenBSD box beside me has a limit of 262144. > > Cheers, > -mjg > -- Derek Smithies Ph.D. This PC runs pine on linux for email IndraNet Technologies Ltd. If you find a virus apparently from me, it has Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] forged the e-mail headers on someone else's machine ph +64 3 365 6485 Please do not notify me when (apparently) receiving a Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/ windows virus from me......
