bugfindutils - Bugs: bug #14587, -L does not default to -L1 and...

 
 

bug #14587: -L does not default to -L1 and results in error

Submitted by:  None
Submitted on:  Mon 19 Sep 2005 06:25:10 PM UTC  
 
Category: documentationSeverity: 3 - Normal
Item Group: NoneStatus: Fixed
Privacy: PublicAssigned to: James Youngman <jay>
Originator Name: Jason PyeronOriginator Email: -unavailable-
Open/Closed: ClosedRelease: 4.2.11
Fixed Release: 4.2.26

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Wed 21 Sep 2005 09:05:20 AM UTC, comment #4:

I've just applied the following patch, which should fix these remaining problems.

James Youngman <jay>
Project AdministratorIn charge of this item.
Wed 21 Sep 2005 03:12:27 AM UTC, comment #3:

However, your patch did not clarify that -E also requires an argument (not to mention that xargs --help doesn't even mention -E). Plus, it is a bit inconsistent that you list -l before -L, but -I before -i.

Further, `xargs -L' still warns about -l being invalid, so you didn't quite apply ldv's patch correctly.

Eric Blake <ericb>
Project Administrator
Tue 20 Sep 2005 06:42:55 PM UTC, comment #2:

I attach a patch which I applied to clarify the situation (sorry ldv, I didn't spot that you have already created a patch).

James Youngman <jay>
Project AdministratorIn charge of this item.
Mon 19 Sep 2005 08:49:14 PM UTC, comment #1:

See also http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-findutils/2005-08/msg00037.html. POSIX requires -L to have a required argument, but -l can have an optional argument. So it is only -l that defaults to 1. The documentation is buggy.

However, looking at the output of the program, it is a bit odd that the error message for -L refers to -l - that could be improved.

Eric Blake <ericb>
Project Administrator
Mon 19 Sep 2005 06:25:10 PM UTC, original submission:

from man xargs:

--max-lines[=max-lines], -L[max-lines]
Use at most max-lines nonblank input lines per command line; max-lines defaults to 1 if omitted.
Trailing blanks cause an input line to be logically continued on the next input line. Implies -x.

[jpyeron@mrlaptop rpms.pdinc.us]$ find | perl -ne 'm/(.+)\/.+\.rpm$/ and print $1, "\n";' | sort -u | xargs -L echo
xargs: invalid number for -l option
Usage: xargs [-0prtx] [-e[eof-str]] [-i[replace-str]] [-l[max-lines]]
[-n max-args] [-s max-chars] [-P max-procs] [--null] [--eof[=eof-str]]
[--replace[=replace-str]] [--max-lines[=max-lines]] [--interactive]
[--max-chars=max-chars] [--verbose] [--exit] [--max-procs=max-procs]
[--max-args=max-args] [--no-run-if-empty] [--arg-file=file]
[--version] [--help] [command [initial-arguments]]

Report bugs to <bug-findutils@gnu.org>.
[jpyeron@mrlaptop rpms.pdinc.us]$ find | perl -ne 'm/(.+)\/.+\.rpm$/ and print $1, "\n";' | sort -u | xargs -l echo
./SRPMS
./foo bar
./i386
[jpyeron@mrlaptop rpms.pdinc.us]$ find | perl -ne 'm/(.+)\/.+\.rpm$/ and print $1, "\n";' | sort -u | xargs -L1 echo
./SRPMS
./foo bar
./i386
[jpyeron@mrlaptop rpms.pdinc.us]$

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Attached Files
file #3154:  e-option.patch added by jay (3KiB - application/octet-stream - Clarifications to -E)
file #3183:  xargs.c.diff added by ldv (616B - Proposed error message fix as suggested by Eric Blake)

 

Depends on the following items: None found

Items that depend on this one: None found

 

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Follow 8 latest changes.

Date Changed By Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced By
Sat 19 Nov 2005 09:47:30 PM UTCjayOpen/ClosedOpen=>Closed
  Fixed ReleaseNone=>4.2.26
Wed 21 Sep 2005 09:05:20 AM UTCjayAttached File-=>Added e-option.patch, #2976
Tue 20 Sep 2005 06:42:55 PM UTCjayCategoryxargs=>documentation
  StatusNone=>Fixed
  Assigned toNone=>jay
Mon 19 Sep 2005 09:19:43 PM UTCldvAttached File-=>Added xargs.c.diff, #2969
Mon 19 Sep 2005 06:25:10 PM UTCNoneCarbon-Copy-=>Added jpyeron --AT-- pdinc --DOT-- us

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