file Command
  
  
  Purpose
  
  Determines the file type.
  
  Syntax
  
  
  
   To Classify the File Type
  
  file [  -m MagicFile ] [  -f FileList ] [ File ... ]
  
   To Check the Magic File for Format Errors
  
  file  -c [  -m MagicFile ]
  
  Description
  
  The file command reads the files specified by the File or -f
  FileList parameter, performs a series of tests on each one, and
  attempts to classify them by types.  The command then writes  the
  file types to standard output.
  
  If a file appears to be ASCII, the file command examines the
  first  512 bytes and determines its language.  If a file does not
  appear to be ASCII, the file command further attempts to distin-
  guish a binary data file from a text file that  contains extended
  characters.
  
  If the File parameter specifies an executable or object module
  file and the version number is greater than 0, the file command
  displays the version stamp.  The ld command explains the use of
  a.out files.
  
  The file command uses the /etc/magic file to identify files that
  have some sort of a magic number; that is, any file containing  a
  numeric or string constant that indicates type.
  
  The file command uses the magic.cat message catalog.  If
  magic.cat message catalog cannot be opened, the file command uses
  the /etc/magic file.
  
  Flags
  
  -c	Checks the specified MagicFile (the /etc/magic file, by de-
  fault) for format errors.   This validation is not normally done.
  File typing is not done under this flag.
  
  -f FileList	Reads the FileList parameter for a list of files to
  examine.
  
  -m MagicFile	Specifies the magic file (the /etc/magic file, by
  default) as the value of the magic file variable.
  
  Exit Status
  
  This command returns the following exit values:
  
  0	Successful completion.
  
  >0	An error occurred.
  
  Examples
  
  1.	To display the type of information a file contains, enter:
  
  file myfile
  
  This displays the file type of myfile (such as directory, data,
  ASCII text, C-program source, and archive).
  
  2.	To display the type of each file named in a list of file
  names, enter:
  
  file -f filenames
  
  This displays the type of each file named in the filenames list.
  Each file name must appear alone on a line.
  
  To create filenames, enter:
  
  ls >filenames
  
  Then edit the filenames list as desired.
  
  Implementation Specifics
  
  This command is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
  
  Files
  
  /usr/bin/file	Contains the file command.
  
  /etc/magic	Contains the file type database.
  
  Related Information
  
   File Systems, Directories, and Files Overview in AIX Version 3.2
  System User's Guide: Base and Devices.
  
   Input and Output Redirection Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System
  User's Guide: Base and Devices describes how the operating system
  processes input and output.
  
   Files Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System User's Guide: Base and
  Devices describes files, file types, and how to name files.
  
   Understanding File and Directory Access Modes in AIX Version 3.2
  System User's Guide: Base and Devices introduces file ownership
  and permissions to access files and directories.
  
  The  find command,  ld command.