Zero sizing the existing file ? 2

[Sekhar]

Hi,

How can I bring an existing file to zero size without changing permissions & ownerships?

Thanks in advance,
Sekhar.

 

[d3funct]

Just type ">filename"
for example:

_rwxr_xr_x 1 UID GID 2048 Jan 5 12:44 filename

prompt> >filename

_rwxr_xr_x 1 UID GID 0 Jan 5 12:44 filename

would zero-size the file and leave everything else alone. d3funct
borg@pcgeek.net
The software required `Windows 95 or better', so I installed Linux.

 

[071]

Just curious, Is there any difference in doing the following ? ( Why dev/null )

cat /dev/null >filename

Cheers.

 

[MikeLacey]

/dev/null guaranteed to return an end-of-file character so it will do exactly the same thing. The nice thing about d3funct's suggestion is that functionally it's exacly the same but doesn't start a 'cat' process and is much easier to type. I used to use:

cat > some_file <<!
!

but I won't now. <grin> I love it when someone comes up with something nice and simple like that; childish of me I know, but there you go.
Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com

 

[jad]

doesn't work in csh/bash tho ...

cat /dev/null > [filename] works ...

or cat > [filename]
^D

will work ...