get the real path from a link 1

[cruel]

If a link is for a directory, how would one get the real path. It must be very simple but it just never came across me.

 

[ZaSter]

Depending on what operating system, you can use "file":

$ file /var/mail
/var/mail: symbolic link to spool/mail

 

[marsd]

An easy way to get a compete listing:
ls -l $dir | awk ' /->/ {printf "%s = %s\n",$(NF - 2), $NF}'

 

[cruel]

Thanks. However, excuse me for failing to explain in more details. Suppose I see a directory:
/d1/f1
/d1/f2

and I see a link
/d1_ln -> /d1

now if you test d1_ln, it shows it is a link. If you test /d1_ln/f1, it is not a link anymore. I do not know why things are being set up this way, but I need to show that /d1_ln/f1 is actually /d1/f1. I guess one could test each level of directory, but I am wondering if there is a more straightforward way to test this, especially built-in command?

 

[PHV]

In ksh you can use

pwd -P

or

pwd -L

to see the real path or the logical path

Hope This Help
PH.

 

[cruel]

That is terrific. I do not know why I neven try to man pwd. pwd -P works on my system. Thanks all

 

[ZaSter]

That's a good one, PHV! Found the -L and -P options described under the manual pages for "bash" where I've never noted them before. That gets a star as a helpful post. Thanks!