UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi all,
I am trying to perform a simple task with grep, this is what I execute:

grep -i -n 'error|fail|warning' cl_less.out

when I execute it it does not give any errors, as in the command worked and back to the command prompt, but if I run each grep independently the I do get a real fail:

grep -i -n error cl_less.out
161726:ERROR at line 1:

715509:ERROR:
715510:ORA-00604: error occurred at recursive SQL level 1
715525:ERROR at line 1:
715556:ERROR:
715557:ORA-00604: error occurred at recursive SQL level 1
715592:ERROR at line 1:
715605:ERROR:
715606:ORA-00604: error occurred at recursive SQL level 1
806844:ERROR at line 1:

What am I doing wrong with first command that it does not print the error.

also what do I need to add the first command to change directory and do grep at the same time, also I want to grep with that command for several files with different names at the same time.

Your help is much appreciated.

use egrep

or [if on solaris] use '/usr/xpg4/bin/grep -E'

And similarly on Linux (or any system that uses GNU grep)

grep -E

Cheers
ZB

Thanks guys for your reply, egrep does the trick.

Now if wanted to change directory from home to "test" directory and do egrep what can I add to the beginning of the line so it changes directory and greps at the same time:
egrep -i -n error cl_less.out


Also I do egrep for a few files at the same time, they have different names so there is no pattern, I just add them one after the other and execute.

but there is an egrep I perform where there is a pattern:

egrep -i -n error cl_less1.out cl_less2.out cl_less3.out cl_less4.out

How can shorten this command and egrep just for these files.

Again your help is most appreciated!!!

If I understand you correctly

cd /path/to/test && egrep -i -n error cl_less*.out

Or easier still, you don't need to cd

egrep -i -n error /path/to/test/cl_less*.out

Cheers
ZB

Thanks ZAZZYBOB for you help!!!
This option: egrep -i -n error /path/to/test/cl_less*.out is working great with files that have the same name or follow a pattern.
But if I try the same option with files of different names it's not working, I tried this:
egrep -i -n error /path/to/test/cl_less.out more.out test.out
but it errors and it seems to find only the first file in the sequence, saying it can not open the other files.
I can not egrep for *.out because there would be too many files, is there any changes I can do so that it will change directory and egrep several files with different names?
NOTE: if I change directory first then egrep -i -n error cl_less.out more.out test.out it does work, but I want to be able to change directory at the same time.

your help is very much appreciated!!

the succeeding argument files have no associated paths but the first one does ... fixed by doing a cd to the directory in question ...