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problem with grep

 
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# 1  
Old 11-12-2010
problem with grep
Hi

I am trying to grep a string in a directory which is having 5000 files.
Code:
PA>> grep -iH 'linc.unisure_pr13n' *
bash: /usr/bin/grep: Arg list too long

I am getting the error. i also tried

Code:
PA>> ls -ltr | grep -iH 'linc.unisure_pr13n' *

but still i am getting the error

Please Advice !!

Cheers!
Last edited by Scott; 11-15-2010 at 02:56 AM.. Reason: Code tags
# 2  
Old 11-12-2010
if your directory does not have any subdirectories (or if you don't mind searching through the as well), you can use recursive grep to avoid the issue of "Arg list too long".
Here is an example:
Code:
cd dir_with_5000_files/..  ## basically get to the parent directory of the directory you want to search through
grep -r -iH 'linc.unisure_pr13n' dir_with_5000_files

# 3  
Old 11-12-2010
This should also work:

Code:
ls | xargs grep -iH 'pattern'

# 4  
Old 11-12-2010
The error comes from the wildcard expansion, not from the grep command.

just do this (depending on what you are trying to achieve) :
Code:
ls -ltr | grep -iH 'pattern_in_filename'

or
Code:
ls -tr | xargs grep -iH 'pattern_in_file'

Note that if you want to grep a pattern inside the files listed, then you should not use the -l option of the ls command so the name of the file will be displayed directly and can be passed to grep via xargs command.
Otherwise, the file name will be on the 9th field
Last edited by ctsgnb; 11-12-2010 at 09:53 AM..
# 5  
Old 11-15-2010
Thanks!!! Guys
I learnt something today on grep ..
Thank you very much

Cheers!
 
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