xargs: missing quote?

AbhishekG · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008

i am facing this problem

>find . -mtime +5 | xargs ls -lrt
xargs: missing quote?: ./off.lst

even if i try ivar i get this error
>find $PWD -mtime +5 | xargs -ivar echo "var"
/home/fnsonlid/.cshrc
/home/fnsonlid/.exrc
/home/fnsonlid/.login
/home/fnsonlid/CA550CKR
/home/fnsonlid/asdf.lst
/home/fnsonlid/gan
/home/fnsonlid/gan/asdf
/home/fnsonlid/gan/qwer
/home/fnsonlid/gan/zxcv
/home/fnsonlid/.ssh
/home/fnsonlid/ab
/home/fnsonlid/mbox
/home/fnsonlid/brhm.ian
/home/fnsonlid/invm.ian
/home/fnsonlid/brhm2.ian
/home/fnsonlid/brhm3.ian
/home/fnsonlid/recon
/home/fnsonlid/insp.ian
/home/fnsonlid/inv.lst
xargs: missing quote?: /home/fnsonlid/off.lst

please help

Franklin52 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008

It seems that you have some "special characters" in your file(s), why don't you try it this way without xargs:

Code:

find . -mtime +5 -exec ls -lrt {} \;

jim mcnamara · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008

I think there are hidden non-printing characters in the file name. try this:

Code:

ls /home/fnsonlid/ | od -c

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how to print single quote in awk	gauravgoel	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	6	08-20-2008 05:48 PM
single quote	dreams5617	Shell Programming and Scripting	2	12-01-2007 03:37 AM
Don't Quote Me On This...	Janus	Shell Programming and Scripting	3	11-01-2006 11:59 PM
AWK handling of single quote	braindrain	Shell Programming and Scripting	3	04-27-2006 05:57 PM
Replacing a single quote	rjsha1	Shell Programming and Scripting	3	12-23-2005 10:55 AM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:


	Powered by