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OS X Syntax

cat

Display the contents of a file (concatenate and print)

SYNTAX
       cat [-benstuv] [-] [file ...]

Options
     -b      Implies the -n option but doesn't number blank lines.

     -e      Implies the -v option, and displays a dollar sign (`$') at the
             end of each line as well.

     -n      Number the output lines, starting at 1.

     -s      Squeeze multiple adjacent empty lines, causing the output to be
             single spaced.

     -t      Implies the -v option, and displays tab characters as `^I' as
             well.

     -u      The -u option guarantees that the output is unbuffered.

     -v      Displays non-printing characters so they are visible.  Control
             characters print as `^X' for control-X; the delete character (octal 0177)
             prints as `^?' Non-ascii characters (with the high bit set)
             are printed as `M-' (for meta) followed by the character for
             the low 7 bits.

cat exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

"To be nobody but yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting" - E. E. Cummings

Related commands:

cp - Copy one or more files to another location
mv - Move or rename files or directories

Equivalent BASH command:

cat
- Display the contents of a file



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Simon Sheppard
SS64.com