How to check file types of multiple files using "file"

Question

I'm solving this wargame challenge:

http://overthewire.org/wargames/bandit/bandit5.html

where you have a directory with multiple files, one of which holds the password to the next level. To find the hidded password, you need to find the only file with text in it(the other ones have a file type "data").

I checked the contents of the files with the "file" command and I found the password but I began to wonder how can I do it with one command. I tried using find but I can't get it to work.

Question: How can I pipe the output of find into file?

fedorqui · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-24 20:42:00Z

1

You can use file with multiple arguments:

file file1 file2

So you can create a find statement looking for your desired files and then use the expression:

file $(find ... your_condition ...)

But probably the best way is to use -exec to perform an action on the found results:

find ... -exec file {} +

this performs the find and executes the file command on the result list.

edited Jan 24, 2015 at 20:42

answered Jan 24, 2015 at 19:27

fedorqui

293k113 gold badges592 silver badges640 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

6 Comments

fedorqui Over a year ago

You are welcome :) By the way, just wondering: is this game open? I went through the first steps and it looks promising, but I don't want to enter where I am not invited!

Georgi D. Georgiev Over a year ago

What do you mean by open? If you mean open to anybody, I think it is. I started from Bandit because my wargame skills are very basic but there are options for advanced players.

fedorqui Over a year ago

I mean: can I participate?

Reinstate Monica Please Over a year ago

find ... -exec file {} \; is definitely much better/safer than file $(find ... ). Would be even better with a + instead of \;

fedorqui Over a year ago

@BroSlow indeed. With + it just executes the command once. Updating, thanks!

|

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to check file types of multiple files using "file"

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related