[unix-history] / usr / man / man1 / file.1

.TH FILE 1  "18 January 1983"
.SH NAME
file \- determine file type
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B file
file ...
.SH DESCRIPTION
.I File
performs a series of tests on each argument
in an attempt to classify it.
If an argument appears to be ascii,
.I file
examines the first 512 bytes
and tries to guess its language.
.SH BUGS
It often makes mistakes.
In particular it often suggests that
command files are C programs.
.PP
Does not recognize Pascal or LISP.
Commit	Line	Data
d8649de5 C	1	.TH FILE 1 "18 January 1983"
	2	.SH NAME
	3	file \- determine file type
	4	.SH SYNOPSIS
	5	.B file
	6	file ...
	7	.SH DESCRIPTION
	8	.I File
	9	performs a series of tests on each argument
	10	in an attempt to classify it.
	11	If an argument appears to be ascii,
	12	.I file
	13	examines the first 512 bytes
	14	and tries to guess its language.
	15	.SH BUGS
	16	It often makes mistakes.
	17	In particular it often suggests that
	18	command files are C programs.
	19	.PP
	20	Does not recognize Pascal or LISP.