topic Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files in Operating System - HP-UX

ls -A, problem with hidden files

maki hakapeszi — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:58:35 GMT

'ls -A' behaves different, if you're root

For example:
/home/oper/test#whoami
oper
/home/oper/test#touch '.hiddenfile'
/home/oper/test#ls -A
.hiddenfile
/home/oper/test#sudo su
/home/oper/test#ls -A
/home/oper/test#
/home/oper/test# ls
.hiddenfile

If you are root, 'ls -A' doesn't list hidden files.

Thanks

Maki
HP-UX B.11.31 U ia64

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

Patrick Wallek — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:14:32 GMT

Apparently the '-A' is a "switch" that turns the display of hidden files on or off.

Note the 'ls' man page entry for '-A'

-A The same as -a, except that the current directory . and parent directory .. are not listed. For a user with appropriate privileges, this flag defaults to on, and is turned off by -A.

In a nutshell -- Since root already has the ability to display hidden files, the '-A' switch turns OFF the display of hidden files.

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

likid0 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:17:29 GMT

From man:

-A The same as -a, except that the current directory . and
parent directory .. are not listed. For a user with
appropriate privileges, this flag defaults to on, and is
turned off by -A.

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

vishnu.khandare — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:51:41 GMT

Hi Maki,

Use ls with -a option,

As -A option : -A The same as -a, except that the current directory . and parent directory .. are not listed. For a user with
appropriate privileges, this flag defaults to on, and is
turned off by -A.

Regards
Vishnu Khandare

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

maki hakapeszi — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:02:14 GMT

Thank you for fast reply.

Would you define the user 'with appropriate privileges', is it only root?

Thanks
Maki

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

Pete Randall — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:12:14 GMT

A user with "appropriate privileges" would be root or the owner.

Pete

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

Pete Randall — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:19:55 GMT

Actually, in the case of the on/off behavior of the switch, I think the only users this applies to would be root, as shown in your initial test.

Pete

Re: ls -A, problem with hidden files

maki hakapeszi — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:20:23 GMT

Thank you.