UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hello,

And when you think you know the basics of something, UNIX in this case, something like what I will describe below comes along....

On a Linux system, a "typical" directory with some files. Say 20.
I do:

Code:

> ls | sort > mylisting

Now when I:

Code:

> vi mylisting

There is mylisting in the list of files in the directory.

I always though the pipe redirections were "linear".

Any explanations would be appreciated.

=S

Pls ignore this box, as the question was not very clear to me at first attempt.

It should not be in the list. I guess the file: mylisting was already present in the directory. Can you remove file: mylisting and rerun?

Code:

rm mylisting
ls | sort > mylisting

Thanks but I am not that "bad" !..
That was the first thing I checked.
Removed the created one and rerun..... same result!

=S

sorry I misunderstood in first question.Can you put exact output, how mylisting is coming in the list of file. Or try from another directory. The output file name should not be coming in the redirection.

@revri:
I am not sure I understant exactly you explanation but yes. it seems so.

Tested it on two installations as well. Same result for both.
Here they are:
1. Linux comet 2.6.32-41-generic #89-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 27 22:18:56 UTC 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux
2. Linux testserv 2.6.18-6-686-bigmem #1 SMP Thu Nov 5 17:30:05 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

-S

---------- Post updated at 02:38 PM ---------- Previous update was at 02:33 PM ----------

OK here is a recipe for all to try.
I tried it on 2 systems. One a "pure" Ubuntu.
Check "before and after" to make sure that there are no "rogue" files present.

Code:

70      mkdir tmp
71      ll
72      cd tmp/
73      ll
74      for i in 1 2 3 ; do
        touch $i.file
        done
75      ll
76      ls | sort
77      ls | sort > mysort
78      vi mysort

You could try this instead:

Code:

ls | sort -o mysort

BTW I am not sure about the cause of this behavior, I am looking into it, will get back to you when I have an answer.