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Sort by size, then list file in each directory

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#1 (permalink)

07-01-2009

ChatPerdu

Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 2

Sort by size, then list file in each directory

Hi,

I have directories with name like:
aaa
bbb
ccc
...

I would like to to see which directories are the largest and then list the files within each. I have success using:

Code:

du -ks * | sort -rin | head -n 20

which gives me an output like:
120 bbb
27 ccc
3 aaa
...

I would like to be able to do a simple "ls" so I have a clearer view of what's in each of the big directory. Without knowing anything about xargs, I am trying:

Code:

du -ks * | sort -rin | head -n 20 | xargs ls

which gives me (on top of the errors) an alphabetical order list of "ls", instead of what I would like which is more like a "-exec ls {}" in "find"...

ls: 3: No such file or directory
ls: 120: No such file or directory
ls: 27: No such file or directory
aaa:
will_cover_page.gif

bbb:
will_dependents_page_2.gif will_dependents_page_4.gif
will_dependents_page_3.gif

ccc:
will_dependents_page_1.gif will_signatures.gif

Is there a more efficient way of doing this? Thanks in advance...