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file(1)								       file(1)

NAME
     file - determine file type

SYNOPSIS
     file [-h] [-m mfile] [-f ffile] arg . . .
     file [-h] [-m mfile] -f ffile
     file -c [-m mfile]

DESCRIPTION
     file performs a series of tests on each file supplied by arg and,
     optionally, on each file supplied in ffile in an attempt to classify it.
     If arg appears to be a text file, file examines the first 512 bytes and
     tries to guess its programming language.  If arg is an executable a.out,
     file prints the version stamp, provided it is greater than 0.  For COFF
     executables, the version stamp will give the version of compilers used to
     generate the executable.  For ELF executables, the version stamp gives
     the version of ELF to which the file conforms.  If arg is a symbolic
     link, by default the link is followed and file tests the file that the
     symbolic link references.

     -c		 Check the magic file for format errors.  For reasons of
		 efficiency, this validation is normally not carried out.

     -f ffile	 ffile contains the names of the files to be examined.

     -h		 Do not follow symbolic links.

     -m mfile	 Use mfile as an alternate magic file, instead of /etc/magic.

     file uses /etc/magic to identify files that have a magic number.  A magic
     number is a numeric or string constant that indicates the file type.
     Commentary at the beginning of /etc/magic explains its format.

     file classifies files containing supplementary code set characters
     according to the locale specified in the LC_CTYPE environment variable
     [see LANG on environ(5)].	file reads each argument and can distinguish
     data files, program text files, shell scripts, and executable files as
     follows:
		   Files			  Classification
		   _____________________________________________
		   Data files containing	  data
		   supplementary characters
		   Shell scripts containing	  command text
		   supplementary characters
		   Language program text files	  xxx text
		   containing literals or
		   comments using supplementary
		   characters

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file(1)								       file(1)

		   Executable files		  executable

FILES
     /etc/magic
     /usr/lib/locale/locale/LC_MESSAGES/uxcore
     /usr/lib/locale/locale/LC_MESSAGES/uxsgicore
	  language-specific message file [See LANG on environ(5).]
SEE ALSO
     filehdr(4)
DIAGNOSTICS
     If the -h option is specified and arg is a symbolic link, file prints the
     error message:
	  UX:file:ERROR:symbolic link to arg

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