NAME
zcat - decompress and concatenate files to standard output
SYNOPSIS
zcat [options] [files]
DESCRIPTION
zcat copies each file argument to standard output in sequence. If any file given is compressed, its decompressed content is copied. If a file given does not exist, and its name does not end with one of the known extensions, zcat tries the compressed file names corresponding to the formats supported until one is found. If a file fails to decompress, zcat continues copying the rest of the files.
If a file is specified as ’-’, data are read from standard input, decompressed if needed, and sent to standard output. Data read from standard input must be of the same type; all uncompressed or all in the same compressed format.
If no files are specified, recursive searches examine the current working directory, and nonrecursive searches read standard input.
The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip, xz, and zstd.
Exit status is 0 if no errors occurred, 1 otherwise.
OPTIONS
-h, --help
display this help and exit
-V, --version
output version information and exit
-A, --show-all
equivalent to ’-vET’
-b, --number-nonblank
number nonblank output lines
-e |
equivalent to ’-vE’ |
-E, --show-ends
display ’$’ at end of each line
-M, --format=<list>
process only the formats in <list>
-n, --number
number all output lines
-N, --no-rcfile
don’t read runtime configuration file
-O, --force-format=<fmt>
force the input format
-q, --quiet
suppress all messages
-r, --recursive
operate recursively on directories
-R, --dereference-recursive
recursively follow symbolic links
-s, --squeeze-blank
never more than one single blank line
-t |
equivalent to ’-vT’ |
-T, --show-tabs
display TAB characters as ’^I’
-v, --show-nonprinting
use ’^’ and ’M-’ notation, except for LF and TAB
--verbose
verbose mode (show error messages)
--bz2=<command>
set compressor and options for bzip2 format
--gz=<command>
set compressor and options for gzip format
--lz=<command>
set compressor and options for lzip format
--xz=<command>
set compressor and options for xz format
--zst=<command>
set compressor and options for zstd format
Valid formats for options ’-M’ and ’-O’ are ’bz2’, ’gz’, ’lz’, ’xz’, ’zst’, and ’un’ for uncompressed.
REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to
zutils-bug [AT] nongnu.org
Zutils home page:
http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html
COPYRIGHT
Copyright
© 2024 Antonio Diaz Diaz. License GPLv2+: GNU GPL
version 2 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and
redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by law.
SEE ALSO
The full documentation for zcat is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and zcat programs are properly installed at your site, the command
info zutils
should give you access to the complete manual.