xref: /original-bsd/usr.bin/file/file.1 (revision d272e02a)
1.\" Copyright (c) 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
2.\" All rights reserved.
3.\"
4.\" %sccs.include.redist.man%
5.\"
6.\"     @(#)file.1	6.4 (Berkeley) 03/14/91
7.\"
8.Vx
9.Vx
10.Dd
11.Dt FILE 1
12.Os
13.Sh NAME
14.Nm file
15.Nd identify file content
16.Sh SYNOPSIS
17.Nm file
18.Ar
19.Sh DESCRIPTION
20.Nm File
21tests the given argument(s) and reports
22the content type(s).
23If
24the file type is text,
25it attempts to determine
26the type of text (e.g.
27.Xr csh 1
28commands or C code)
29.Pp
30As several tests
31are used and
32.Nm file
33stops testing on the first successful one,
34it can make mistakes.
35.Pp
36.Nm File
37does not recognize Pascal or LISP.
38.\" .Sh ENVIRONMENT
39.Sh HISTORY
40A
41.Nm file
42command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.
43