15.F: Finding Files with find

15: File Utilities

15.D: Appending with >>

The vertical bar symbol | is used to pipe output from one command into another command. You have already used this symbol to pipe to the ls command output to the more command. (Do you remember ls -a |more?)

Another way to use the pipe symbol is to print man pages. If you are working in Wngr 412 try the command:
> man cat | enscript -2 -r

We have taken the output from the man command, piped it into the enscript command to produce a printout of the man pages for the head command.

Piping is one of the most versatile features of Unix and can save you from creating excess files (which must be deleted later). Almost any situation where you would like to send the ouput from one command into another command can be implemented with a pipe.

Next we will look at a utility which allows you to find files.

15.F: Finding Files with find

15: File Utilities

15.D: Appending with >>