From unknown Sun Jun 22 00:52:45 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#46179: Tweak to man page Resent-From: Robert Bruntz Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-grep@gnu.org Resent-Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 19:46:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 46179 X-GNU-PR-Package: grep X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 46179@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-grep@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.161194950830649 (code B ref -1); Fri, 29 Jan 2021 19:46:02 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 29 Jan 2021 19:45:08 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:52992 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1l5Zhb-0007yH-Vp for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:45:08 -0500 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([209.51.188.17]:46466) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1l5ZbF-0007oR-QX for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:38:35 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::10]:43088) by lists.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_256_GCM_SHA384:256) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1l5ZbF-0004Y9-Jg for bug-grep@gnu.org; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:38:33 -0500 Received: from mail-oi1-x22f.google.com ([2607:f8b0:4864:20::22f]:40490) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_128_GCM_SHA256:128) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1l5ZbD-0002r3-Gw for bug-grep@gnu.org; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:38:33 -0500 Received: by mail-oi1-x22f.google.com with SMTP id p5so11110210oif.7 for ; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:38:30 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=cnu.edu; s=google; h=mime-version:from:date:message-id:subject:to; bh=SjBAHlrVzQKUaa48WWSzh9Ofplw3EdyixCcNvpyb5Hw=; b=WWDt9N6L6M4sMe9Jjqa9efd2rxXFKrxaG0H0OlXkpyydPQTTzY7OiAePEzJyzFXPIm guf7kiZNkametAunAqALTQQE+qWfBt9mPVo07dARLdvkgTi45Y5jWUSmUdWATehtibMx T9u1nwhBteTadWOr+2HJoomLJ/nWHPHEG16hremZxMEO71Dl8gS9ZrrWQXH5j1xazi1u T9Ff3vGolhuls/7DL2YmuOr3yWCrADL29hJ9Zv4ufcmvkeXD0Uib1Nx0igCrQhRKeX7x BAIOV+7P5evDa4kSNRrNHztnjuqpZwtVV/wGJ0vrsetRI82i4KJB5IdK+SkFp3gg/x8v ZUqg== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:from:date:message-id:subject:to; bh=SjBAHlrVzQKUaa48WWSzh9Ofplw3EdyixCcNvpyb5Hw=; b=XXV4deE7U6Kn00utYkzZ2Q49TL4368i1UpRh6tRzjMJ5rrg+IInmYpfke63wkHuRmo i1lTUvrfi3zNnVOzz18Iws76do3JvhXgXVhADKgtBA15IQkhGL7sPOI1uurDROfvhzM3 kX3nIVz5kOJy/N89sVFyN+honPwt5+no8S/KPfzMmAge/aM1CYfVoP4vkkS2sBl338Sj e7+R1RV/G7QyZhhIQLurvFfyK0v5/d3h3U2tS2gzuXbdGFA32S3+wMijCOUwIKHZ71lp 9reJAtT7eVye9i5zSAerCGni+CBlw2WmgOM8VVYcQRNxKoBP2ObNic1Ayrl1z4Bd/Gjn VAgQ== X-Gm-Message-State: AOAM530UaB2+xtVv38aXsB7v24NDshwenQd4XZAdAo9dKEs8y6D9gC+w /zkyKnuxlJDT9o8NMb0RotVFNZVVCQOL9DOVZU3fRlXpYS82UQ== X-Google-Smtp-Source: ABdhPJwJMw6Ir9fK/RVDSQLzAkMjGoV91fj0SFAqEJXKJ9dc/O0AowloqA3yiEPAQUciCBT3gH5y9smAovCgDxSvQ98= X-Received: by 2002:aca:4903:: with SMTP id w3mr132158oia.70.1611949109365; Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:38:29 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 From: Robert Bruntz Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:38:18 -0500 Message-ID: Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b" Received-SPF: pass client-ip=2607:f8b0:4864:20::22f; envelope-from=robert.bruntz@cnu.edu; helo=mail-oi1-x22f.google.com X-Spam_score_int: -20 X-Spam_score: -2.1 X-Spam_bar: -- X-Spam_report: (-2.1 / 5.0 requ) BAYES_00=-1.9, DKIM_SIGNED=0.1, DKIM_VALID=-0.1, DKIM_VALID_AU=-0.1, DKIM_VALID_EF=-0.1, HTML_MESSAGE=0.001, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE=-0.0001, SPF_HELO_NONE=0.001, SPF_PASS=-0.001 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no X-Spam_action: no action X-Spam-Score: -1.3 (-) X-Mailman-Approved-At: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:45:06 -0500 X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) --0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi there - I would like to recommend a minor tweak to the man page for GNU grep. (The version I'm looking at is 2.20, but I doubt that matters.) I would recommend changing the description of the -l and -L options from this: The scanning will stop on the first match. to something like this: The scanning of a file will stop on the first match. The reason for this is that the first version is ambiguous, in that it could be read as the grep command itself will stop at the first match, thus printing only the name of the first file that matches (-l) or doesn't match (-L), rather than the scanning of each file will stop on the first match and start again on the next file. Admittedly, this functionality doesn't make much sense, but most users don't use all the functionality of a command, so some of it doesn't make sense on the first encounter (or even much later), and I admit that at one point that's exactly what happened to me in this very case ("Why would you only want the name of the first file that matches and none of the others? That's kind of bizarre.") Please let me know if any of the above is unclear (unless, of course, you stopped reading at the first nonsensical part and skipped on to the next email). Thanks! --- Robert Bruntz, PhD Associate Scientist, PCSE dept. at CNU robert.bruntz@cnu.edu 757-594-8570 (office) 817-899-7716 (cell) --0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi there -
=C2=A0 I would like to recommend a minor tw= eak to the man page for GNU grep.=C2=A0 (The version I'm looking at is = 2.20, but I doubt that matters.)
=C2=A0 I would recommend changin= g the description of the -l and -L options from this:
The scannin= g will stop on the first match.
=C2=A0 to something like this= :
The scanning of a file will stop on the first match.
<= div>=C2=A0 The reason for this is that the first version is ambiguous, in t= hat it could be read as the grep command itself will stop at the first matc= h, thus printing only the name of the first file that=C2=A0matches (-l) or = doesn't match (-L), rather than the scanning of each file will stop on = the first match and start again on the next file.
=C2=A0 Admitted= ly, this functionality doesn't make much sense, but most users don'= t use all the functionality of a command, so some of it doesn't make se= nse on the first encounter (or even much later), and I admit that at one po= int that's exactly what happened to me in this very case ("Why wou= ld you only want the name of the first file that matches and none of the ot= hers?=C2=A0 That's kind of bizarre.")
=C2=A0 Please let = me know if any of the above is unclear (unless, of course, you stopped read= ing at the first nonsensical part and skipped on to the next email).
<= div>=C2=A0 Thanks!
---
Robert Bruntz, PhD
Associate Scientis= t, PCSE dept. at CNU
757-594-8570 (office)
817-899-7716 (cell)
--0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b-- From unknown Sun Jun 22 00:52:45 2025 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.505 (Entity 5.505) X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org From: help-debbugs@gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System) To: Robert Bruntz Subject: bug#46179: closed (Re: bug#46179: Tweak to man page) Message-ID: References: X-Gnu-PR-Message: they-closed 46179 X-Gnu-PR-Package: grep Reply-To: 46179@debbugs.gnu.org Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:34:01 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----------=_1612114441-4173-1" This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1612114441-4173-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Your bug report #46179: Tweak to man page which was filed against the grep package, has been closed. The explanation is attached below, along with your original report. If you require more details, please reply to 46179@debbugs.gnu.org. --=20 46179: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D46179 GNU Bug Tracking System Contact help-debbugs@gnu.org with problems ------------=_1612114441-4173-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at 46179-done) by debbugs.gnu.org; 31 Jan 2021 17:33:58 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:57889 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1l6Gbm-000155-JG for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 31 Jan 2021 12:33:58 -0500 Received: from mail-yb1-f182.google.com ([209.85.219.182]:38321) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1l6Gbi-00014p-CW for 46179-done@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 31 Jan 2021 12:33:56 -0500 Received: by mail-yb1-f182.google.com with SMTP id i6so8165307ybq.5 for <46179-done@debbugs.gnu.org>; Sun, 31 Jan 2021 09:33:54 -0800 (PST) X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=vo48xLVV7W3OwRqUUxkJMeO1XuHKreccG1ryAZIR1hs=; b=Bug+/lAQ8v2mmIWGpOd+HalgYTwC0AFAnRd8Flsui36SOnMQFyrVaEsxssqwRy7Mjn F0PpsKsDa03E5o+HRYmo0koN42cjnSIyPkdrvVt36rH/vZdsctcxpIDmMDPqsvJnBoaa 7URnjzQh9HHVIQhJVOw/GgMJ40IV36uSouQrCWrxMCZbeAiWd0OGiZrdSSnEbZU0INmI eAbgz354tWxVZ4TmR21vG+VzwnXmwuYm1EGRk1UpiXlE00lO+gLzhyYkBkLfbpkUN7KE E128ubj0DkBobdRdKep+zB3/yTnGPYvdxRL/ihlM0fUDrilKuhHTTpNgtcbkxU6QMrY4 zX0Q== X-Gm-Message-State: AOAM530FHOuQKRnudrOtVEgDEriPIZTQdIavs4R4Tkc2/SS3ablx/UMC +kXm+j9vCDN3h0/iL7DttiWZNVbzaknikAKIRNY= X-Google-Smtp-Source: ABdhPJzE/msNjZqu5gtR5NnqWPML3ysMbXZ0Dg4Jq8c9FBHsDxtsIu83ASYA96Ag9Lqo6D1yzAU1KMZmg5vXWkfCDbs= X-Received: by 2002:a25:6b01:: with SMTP id g1mr19648002ybc.5.1612114428799; Sun, 31 Jan 2021 09:33:48 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 References: In-Reply-To: From: Jim Meyering Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2021 09:33:37 -0800 Message-ID: Subject: Re: bug#46179: Tweak to man page To: Robert Bruntz Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="000000000000ddc1c205ba35a3fd" X-Spam-Score: 0.5 (/) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 46179-done Cc: 46179-done@debbugs.gnu.org X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -0.5 (/) --000000000000ddc1c205ba35a3fd Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" On Fri, Jan 29, 2021 at 11:51 AM Robert Bruntz wrote: > I would like to recommend a minor tweak to the man page for GNU grep. > (The version I'm looking at is 2.20, but I doubt that matters.) > I would recommend changing the description of the -l and -L options from > this: > The scanning will stop on the first match. > to something like this: > The scanning of a file will stop on the first match. > The reason for this is that the first version is ambiguous, in that it > could be read as the grep command itself will stop at the first match, thus > printing only the name of the first file that matches (-l) or doesn't match > (-L), rather than the scanning of each file will stop on the first match > and start again on the next file. Thanks for the report. That has highlighted the fact that the sentence in question doesn't even make sense for -L, so I've deleted it. Note that for the -l option, this was documented properly in grep.texi (the primary documentation -- you can read via "info grep"), but I've tweaked the wording there slightly and propagated that wording to the man page. I'll push the attached later today. --000000000000ddc1c205ba35a3fd Content-Type: application/octet-stream; name="0001-doc-man-fix-L-description-and-improve-l-s.patch" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="0001-doc-man-fix-L-description-and-improve-l-s.patch" Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-ID: X-Attachment-Id: f_kklfa4bq0 RnJvbSBiNmViYzNhMjk5YzBmODQ1ZWJhN2VhYmFjM2Y1OTU5OGM5MWY2ZTdiIE1vbiBTZXAgMTcg MDA6MDA6MDAgMjAwMQpGcm9tOiBKaW0gTWV5ZXJpbmcgPG1leWVyaW5nQGZiLmNvbT4KRGF0ZTog U3VuLCAzMSBKYW4gMjAyMSAwOToxMDowMSAtMDgwMApTdWJqZWN0OiBbUEFUQ0hdIGRvYzogbWFu OiBmaXggLUwgZGVzY3JpcHRpb24gYW5kIGltcHJvdmUgLWwncwoKKiBkb2MvZ3JlcC50ZXhpICgt TCk6IFJlbW92ZSBlcnJvbmVvdXMgc2VudGVuY2UgYWJvdXQgc3RvcHBpbmcgZWFybHkuCldpdGgg LUwsIGdyZXAgY2Fubm90IHN0b3Agc2Nhbm5pbmcgZWFybHkuCigtbCk6IFR3ZWFrIGV4aXN0aW5n IHdvcmRpbmcuCiogZG9jL2dyZXAuaW4uMTogUmVtb3ZlIHRoZSAtTCBzZW50ZW5jZSBoZXJlLCB0 b28uCigtbCk6IENvcHkgdGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIGZyb20gZ3JlcC50ZXhpLCB0byBjbGFyaWZ5OiBp dCdzIG9ubHkgcGVyLWZpbGUKc2Nhbm5pbmcgdGhhdCBzdG9wcyB1cG9uIG1hdGNoLiAgUmVwb3J0 ZWQgYnkgUm9iZXJ0IEJydW50egppbiBodHRwOi8vZGViYnVncy5nbnUub3JnLzQ2MTc5Ci0tLQog ZG9jL2dyZXAuaW4uMSB8IDMgKy0tCiBkb2MvZ3JlcC50ZXhpIHwgMyArLS0KIDIgZmlsZXMgY2hh bmdlZCwgMiBpbnNlcnRpb25zKCspLCA0IGRlbGV0aW9ucygtKQoKZGlmZiAtLWdpdCBhL2RvYy9n cmVwLmluLjEgYi9kb2MvZ3JlcC5pbi4xCmluZGV4IGRiMjcwZGQuLmMwYjZiNDAgMTAwNjQ0Ci0t LSBhL2RvYy9ncmVwLmluLjEKKysrIGIvZG9jL2dyZXAuaW4uMQpAQCAtMzE5LDEzICszMTksMTIg QEAgaXMKIFN1cHByZXNzIG5vcm1hbCBvdXRwdXQ7IGluc3RlYWQgcHJpbnQgdGhlIG5hbWUKIG9m IGVhY2ggaW5wdXQgZmlsZSBmcm9tIHdoaWNoIG5vIG91dHB1dCB3b3VsZAogbm9ybWFsbHkgaGF2 ZSBiZWVuIHByaW50ZWQuCi1UaGUgc2Nhbm5pbmcgd2lsbCBzdG9wIG9uIHRoZSBmaXJzdCBtYXRj aC4KIC5UUAogLkJSIFwtbCAiLCAiIFwtXF5cLWZpbGVzXC13aXRoXC1tYXRjaGVzCiBTdXBwcmVz cyBub3JtYWwgb3V0cHV0OyBpbnN0ZWFkIHByaW50CiB0aGUgbmFtZSBvZiBlYWNoIGlucHV0IGZp bGUgZnJvbSB3aGljaCBvdXRwdXQKIHdvdWxkIG5vcm1hbGx5IGhhdmUgYmVlbiBwcmludGVkLgot VGhlIHNjYW5uaW5nIHdpbGwgc3RvcCBvbiB0aGUgZmlyc3QgbWF0Y2guCitTY2FubmluZyBlYWNo IGlucHV0IGZpbGUgc3RvcHMgdXBvbiBmaXJzdCBtYXRjaC4KIC5UUAogLkJJIFwtbSAiIE5VTSIg IlxmUixcZlAgXC1cXlwtbWF4XC1jb3VudD0iIE5VTQogU3RvcCByZWFkaW5nIGEgZmlsZSBhZnRl cgpkaWZmIC0tZ2l0IGEvZG9jL2dyZXAudGV4aSBiL2RvYy9ncmVwLnRleGkKaW5kZXggMTkwOTlj Yy4uZTNiMTU1NSAxMDA2NDQKLS0tIGEvZG9jL2dyZXAudGV4aQorKysgYi9kb2MvZ3JlcC50ZXhp CkBAIC0zMjMsNyArMzIzLDYgQEAgd2hpY2ggb25seSBjb3ZlcnMgdGhlIGNvbG9yIGZvciBtYXRj aGVkIHRleHQuCiBTdXBwcmVzcyBub3JtYWwgb3V0cHV0OwogaW5zdGVhZCBwcmludCB0aGUgbmFt ZSBvZiBlYWNoIGlucHV0IGZpbGUgZnJvbSB3aGljaAogbm8gb3V0cHV0IHdvdWxkIG5vcm1hbGx5 IGhhdmUgYmVlbiBwcmludGVkLgotVGhlIHNjYW5uaW5nIG9mIGVhY2ggZmlsZSBzdG9wcyBvbiB0 aGUgZmlyc3QgbWF0Y2guCgogQGl0ZW0gLWwKIEBpdGVteCAtLWZpbGVzLXdpdGgtbWF0Y2hlcwpA QCAtMzMzLDcgKzMzMiw3IEBAIFRoZSBzY2FubmluZyBvZiBlYWNoIGZpbGUgc3RvcHMgb24gdGhl IGZpcnN0IG1hdGNoLgogU3VwcHJlc3Mgbm9ybWFsIG91dHB1dDsKIGluc3RlYWQgcHJpbnQgdGhl IG5hbWUgb2YgZWFjaCBpbnB1dCBmaWxlIGZyb20gd2hpY2gKIG91dHB1dCB3b3VsZCBub3JtYWxs eSBoYXZlIGJlZW4gcHJpbnRlZC4KLVRoZSBzY2FubmluZyBvZiBlYWNoIGZpbGUgc3RvcHMgb24g dGhlIGZpcnN0IG1hdGNoLgorU2Nhbm5pbmcgZWFjaCBpbnB1dCBmaWxlIHN0b3BzIHVwb24gZmly c3QgbWF0Y2guCiAoQG9wdGlvbnstbH0gaXMgc3BlY2lmaWVkIGJ5IFBPU0lYLikKCiBAaXRlbSAt bSBAdmFye251bX0KLS0gCjIuMzAuMC5yYzIKCg== --000000000000ddc1c205ba35a3fd-- ------------=_1612114441-4173-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 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Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:38:29 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 From: Robert Bruntz Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:38:18 -0500 Message-ID: Subject: Tweak to man page To: bug-grep@gnu.org Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b" Received-SPF: pass client-ip=2607:f8b0:4864:20::22f; envelope-from=robert.bruntz@cnu.edu; helo=mail-oi1-x22f.google.com X-Spam_score_int: -20 X-Spam_score: -2.1 X-Spam_bar: -- X-Spam_report: (-2.1 / 5.0 requ) BAYES_00=-1.9, DKIM_SIGNED=0.1, DKIM_VALID=-0.1, DKIM_VALID_AU=-0.1, DKIM_VALID_EF=-0.1, HTML_MESSAGE=0.001, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE=-0.0001, SPF_HELO_NONE=0.001, SPF_PASS=-0.001 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no X-Spam_action: no action X-Spam-Score: -1.3 (-) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit X-Mailman-Approved-At: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:45:06 -0500 X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) --0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi there - I would like to recommend a minor tweak to the man page for GNU grep. (The version I'm looking at is 2.20, but I doubt that matters.) I would recommend changing the description of the -l and -L options from this: The scanning will stop on the first match. to something like this: The scanning of a file will stop on the first match. The reason for this is that the first version is ambiguous, in that it could be read as the grep command itself will stop at the first match, thus printing only the name of the first file that matches (-l) or doesn't match (-L), rather than the scanning of each file will stop on the first match and start again on the next file. Admittedly, this functionality doesn't make much sense, but most users don't use all the functionality of a command, so some of it doesn't make sense on the first encounter (or even much later), and I admit that at one point that's exactly what happened to me in this very case ("Why would you only want the name of the first file that matches and none of the others? That's kind of bizarre.") Please let me know if any of the above is unclear (unless, of course, you stopped reading at the first nonsensical part and skipped on to the next email). Thanks! --- Robert Bruntz, PhD Associate Scientist, PCSE dept. at CNU robert.bruntz@cnu.edu 757-594-8570 (office) 817-899-7716 (cell) --0000000000000f643d05ba0f260b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi there -
=C2=A0 I would like to recommend a minor tw= eak to the man page for GNU grep.=C2=A0 (The version I'm looking at is = 2.20, but I doubt that matters.)
=C2=A0 I would recommend changin= g the description of the -l and -L options from this:
The scannin= g will stop on the first match.
=C2=A0 to something like this= :
The scanning of a file will stop on the first match.
<= div>=C2=A0 The reason for this is that the first version is ambiguous, in t= hat it could be read as the grep command itself will stop at the first matc= h, thus printing only the name of the first file that=C2=A0matches (-l) or = doesn't match (-L), rather than the scanning of each file will stop on = the first match and start again on the next file.
=C2=A0 Admitted= ly, this functionality doesn't make much sense, but most users don'= t use all the functionality of a command, so some of it doesn't make se= nse on the first encounter (or even much later), and I admit that at one po= int that's exactly what happened to me in this very case ("Why wou= ld you only want the name of the first file that matches and none of the ot= hers?=C2=A0 That's kind of bizarre.")
=C2=A0 Please let = me know if any of the above is unclear (unless, of course, you stopped read= ing at the first nonsensical part and skipped on to the next email).
<= div>=C2=A0 Thanks!
---
Robert Bruntz, PhD
Associate Scientis= t, PCSE dept. at CNU
757-594-8570 (office)
817-899-7716 (cell)
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