File created with a space

[uk1]

Had a user create a file with a space, so it doesnt have a file name. Is there any way to reference that file through a search pattern? Besides *

Thanks in advance

[Steven E. Protter]

space in the name?

rm "file name"

SEP

[RAC_1]

rm -i "file name"

ls -il
note down inode number
find . -inum "no" -exec rm m -i {} \;

[Rodney Hills · Accepted solution]

If it might be a non-printing character in the name, do a-
ls -ib

This will display the filename with any non-printing characters replaced with "\nnn" representing the octal value of the ascii character. The -i option display the inode number instead of the file size.

With the the inode number you can do the following:

Verify the name of the file is correct
find . -inum -print

Remove the filename based on inode
find . -inum -exec rm {} \;

HTH

-- Rod Hills

[uk1]

Man you guys are fast =) Thanks a ton! Yes the file name was empty but after using the -ib option I am able to see a \177 which explains why there was nothing to see nameing wise

[TwoProc]

David, throw em points!

[uk1]

I guess it would cerntainly help if I clicked the sumbit points button! After selecting the points =)

[Geoff Wild]

And a couple of handy links on this subject:

http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/topics/troubleshooting/os/unix/1231/

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/computing/help/Unix/special_char.html

Rgds...Geoff