How to empty a file(already created) - Shell Programming and Scripting

laknar · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2007

What is the command to empty an already existing file.

please provide me.i used Touch cmd to empty the file.but it changing the time only.

aigles · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-2007

Code:

> file

or

Code:

: > file

laknar · #3 (**permalink**) 07-04-2007

i need to empty a file which is already existing.

porter · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by laknar

i need to empty a file which is already existing.

cat </dev/null >file

aigles · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by laknar

i need to empty a file which is already existing.

The command works also for an existing file :

Code:

$ ls -l my_file
-rw-r--r-- 1 Jean-Pierre Aucun 8943 Jul  4 18:55 my_file
$ > my_file
$ ls -l my_file
-rw-r--r-- 1 Jean-Pierre Aucun 0 Jul  4 18:56 my_file
$

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