ctags(1)ctags(1)Namectags - create a tags file
Syntaxctags [options] name...
Description
The command makes a tags file for from the specified C, Pascal and For‐
tran sources.
A tags file gives the locations of specified objects (in this case
functions and typedefs) in a group of files. Each line of the tags
file contains the object name, the file in which it is defined, and an
address specification for the object definition. Functions are
searched with a pattern, typedefs with a line number. Specifiers are
given in separate fields on the line, separated by blanks or tabs.
Using the tags file, can quickly find these objects definitions.
If the -x flag is given, writes to standard output a list containing
each object name, its line number, the file name in which it is
defined, and the text of the line. This list is a simple index which
can be printed out as an off-line readable function index.
Options-a Appends information to an existing tags file.
-B Uses backward search patterns (?...?).
-F Uses forward search patterns (/.../) (default).
-t Creates typedef tags.
-u Updates the specified tags file. All references to
tags are deleted, and the new values are appended
to the file. Note that this option is implemented
in a way which is rather slow. It is usually
faster to simply rebuild the tags file.)
The tag main is treated specially in C programs.
The tag formed is created by prepending M to the
name of the file, with a trailing .c removed, if
any, and leading pathname components also removed.
This makes use of practical in directories with
more than one program.
-v Generates an index listing function name, file
name, and pages number. Since the output will be
sorted into lexicographic order, it may be desired
to run the output through sort -f. For example,
ctags-v files | sort -f > index
Files whose name ends in .c or .h are assumed to be
C source files and are searched for C routine and
macro definitions. Others are first examined to
see if they contain any Pascal or Fortran routine
definitions; if not, they are processed again look‐
ing for C definitions.
-w Suppresses warning diagnostics and generates a
listing file. This list contains each object name,
its line number, the file name in which it is
defined, and the text of the line, and is identical
to the list produced when no options are given.
-x Writes to standard output a list containing each
object name, its line number, the file name in
whcih it is defined, and the text of the line.
Restrictions
Recognition of functions, subroutines and procedures for FORTRAN and
Pascal do not deal with block structure. Therefore you cannot have two
Pascal procedures in different blocks with the same name.
Does not know about #ifdefs.
Does not know about Pascal types. Relies on the input being well
formed to detect typedefs. Use of -tx shows only the last line of
typedefs.
Files
tags output tags file
See Alsoex(1), vi(1)ctags(1)
