Deleting contents of a UNIX File


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers Deleting contents of a UNIX File
# 1  
Old 06-27-2008
Deleting contents of a UNIX File

Hi ALL,

Can anyone help me out.

I have unix file, I need to delete the contents of the file. Can any one let me know the command to do this.

The file has to be there, but the contents should be deleted.


thanks

Manas
# 2  
Old 06-27-2008
> filename

Will delete the contents of the file
# 3  
Old 06-27-2008
Sorry!!
This is not working.
Could you pleace give me the clear sintax.


Thanks for your time.



Manas
# 4  
Old 06-27-2008
What error are you getting?
Which Unix OS?
Which version?
Which Shell?
What command are you typing at the prompt?
# 5  
Old 06-27-2008
echo " " > filename
The above command will do.......
# 6  
Old 06-27-2008
Code:
echo " " > filename

Will delete the previous contents of the file but will not delete the contents present in it entirely.
# 7  
Old 06-27-2008
try one of:
Code:
cat /dev/null > file
echo "" > file

If none of these work, you may not have privilege to do this on the file.
 
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. UNIX for Beginners Questions & Answers

UNIX utility to find difference in folder, file and contents of file against a base version

Hi, I am trying to find out whether there are any Unix utilities that compares folders, files and contents within the file and provides a comprehensive report. The comparison can be against base version of a folder and file with content. Can you please let me know of such a utility? Thanks,... (6 Replies)
Discussion started by: Sripathi_ks
6 Replies

2. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

What option will use for deleting directory with all its contents?

Hi How to completely delete directory with all it contents I try to use rmdir -r but it give error Thanks ---------- Post updated at 03:10 AM ---------- Previous update was at 02:52 AM ---------- Hi all I got the solution for my thread i use mkdir with the option -p Thanks (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: Tauatioti
1 Replies

3. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Write terminal contents into a one file in UNIX

Hi guys, How to write terminal contents into a file in Unix operating system Actually I created GUI by using Gtk2-perl. I want to display data on GUI whatever the contents writing on terminal. So which command I have to use and where that command to be run I mean in shell script or Perl... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: kiran425
2 Replies

4. Shell Programming and Scripting

How to clear contents of a file without deleting it.

Hi, I have a script which will use an input.txt file as an input file. I am providing data to this input file in the script and once the script is executed, I want to clear all the contents of this file as during the second time use of this script, I'll be appending the data in this input... (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: pat_pramod
5 Replies

5. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

How to add/sum same contents in a unix file

Input 1 2N 2N 1 2N 2N 1 2N 2N 1 2N Ateus 1 3 Mobiles 3M-100 1 3 Mobiles 3M-100 1 3 Mobiles 3M-100 1 3GNET 3gnet 1 3GNET 3gnet 1 3GNET G2828 1 3GNET G2828 1 3GNET G2829 1 3GNET G2829 1 3GNET G2829 OutPut should be 3 2N 2N 3 3 Mobiles 3M-100 2 3GNET 3gnet (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: gagan2010
4 Replies

6. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Script For Deleting Contents of "Live" Log File

In our shop, we have a situation where a log file from our interface engine software has begun maxing out in file size (reaching the 32-bit "2147483647" limit). Currently, the only way to rectify this is to stop the interface and restart it, which generates a new log. Easy enough, but the... (6 Replies)
Discussion started by: rjhjr64
6 Replies

7. Shell Programming and Scripting

Deleting the contents of a folder older than X hours

Every day a new .zip file is uploaded to a folder and at mid-night the zip file is to be extracted into a /data/ folder, inside a date-named folder. # This should extract the contents of a zip file into the /data/ folder into a date based folder /usr/bin/unzip -a -o... (15 Replies)
Discussion started by: worchyld
15 Replies

8. HP-UX

how to redirect the growing contents of log file to another file in unix

how to redirect the growing contents of log file to another file in unix (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: megh
2 Replies

9. Shell Programming and Scripting

Query:just need to remove the contents of the file without deleting that

Hii, Please suggest me how can i only remove the contents of the file without deleting it. (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: namishtiwari
3 Replies

10. Shell Programming and Scripting

Remove the contents of a file without deleting the file

Hi All, I want to delete the contents of few files which are really huge in size. How the same can be done by using sed. Is there any other alternative to sed. Thanks in advance (10 Replies)
Discussion started by: sumesh.abraham
10 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question