How to use the command 'dir' (with examples)

The ‘dir’ command is used to list the contents of a directory in a concise and easy-to-read format. It provides various options to customize the output, including displaying hidden files, listing file details, excluding specific files, recursively listing subdirectories, and displaying help.

Use case 1: List all files, including hidden files

Code:

dir -all

Motivation: Sometimes it is necessary to view all files in a directory, including hidden files. This can be useful for troubleshooting or when you need to access configuration files or other hidden files.

Explanation:

• -all: This option tells the ‘dir’ command to list all files, including hidden files.

Example output:

file1.txt
file2.txt
.config
.git

Use case 2: List files including their author

Code:

dir -l --author

Motivation: When working with files, it can be helpful to know the author or owner of a file. This information can provide insight into who created or last modified a file, which can be useful for collaboration or troubleshooting purposes.

Explanation:

• -l: This option tells the ‘dir’ command to display additional details about each file, including the author.
• --author: This option specifies that the author information should be included in the output.

Example output:

-rw-r--r-- 1 user1 group1  1000 Jun  1 12:00 file1.txt (John Doe)
-rw-r--r-- 1 user2 group2  2000 Jun  2 10:30 file2.txt (Jane Smith)

Use case 3: List files excluding those that match a specified blob pattern

Code:

dir --hide=pattern

Motivation: Sometimes there are specific files that you want to exclude from the directory listing, such as temporary files or backup files. Using the ‘–hide’ option allows you to filter out these files based on a specified pattern.

Explanation:

• --hide: This option tells the ‘dir’ command to hide files that match the specified pattern.

Example output:

file1.txt
file2.txt
file3.txt

Use case 4: List subdirectories recursively

Code:

dir --recursive

Motivation: When working with large directory structures, it can be helpful to see a hierarchical view of all subdirectories and their contents. The ‘–recursive’ option allows you to list all subdirectories recursively.

Explanation:

• --recursive: This option tells the ‘dir’ command to list subdirectories recursively, including all subdirectories within subdirectories.

Example output:

dir1/
    file1.txt
    file2.txt
dir2/
    file3.txt
    subdir1/
        file4.txt
        file5.txt

Use case 5: Display help

Code:

dir --help

Motivation: If you are unsure about the available options or how to use the ‘dir’ command, you can use the ‘–help’ option to display helpful information and usage examples.

Explanation:

• --help: This option tells the ‘dir’ command to display the help information.

Example output:

Usage: dir [OPTION]... [FILE]...

List directory contents

Options:
  -l                  use long listing format
  --author            with -l, include the name of the file's author/owner
  --hide=PATTERN      do not list implied entries matching shell PATTERN
  --recursive         list subdirectories recursively
  --help              display this help and exit

Conclusion:

The ‘dir’ command is a versatile tool for listing directory contents. It allows you to customize the output based on your specific needs, such as displaying hidden files, including file details, excluding specific files, listing subdirectories recursively, and accessing help information. By familiarizing yourself with the various options, you can efficiently navigate and manage directories in your command line environment.