How to use the command 'xzless' (with examples)
The command ‘xzless’ is used to display text from ‘xz’ and ’lzma’ compressed files. It is similar to the ’less’ command but is specifically designed to work with compressed files. This command can be used to view the contents of a compressed file, display line numbers, and quit if the entire file can be displayed on the first screen.
Use case 1: View a compressed file
Code:
xzless path/to/file
Motivation: The motivation behind using this example is to simply view the contents of a compressed file without extracting it or using any other tools.
Explanation: In this use case, ‘xzless’ is used followed by the path to the compressed file. The ‘xzless’ command will decompress the file in memory and display its contents on the console.
Example output: The compressed file specified by ‘path/to/file’ is displayed on the console, allowing the user to view its content without extracting it.
Use case 2: View a compressed file and display line numbers
Code:
xzless --LINE-NUMBERS path/to/file
Motivation: The motivation behind using this example is to view the contents of a compressed file and easily identify specific lines by displaying line numbers.
Explanation: In this use case, the ‘–LINE-NUMBERS’ argument is added to the ‘xzless’ command along with the path to the compressed file. This argument instructs ‘xzless’ to display line numbers alongside the content of the file.
Example output: The compressed file specified by ‘path/to/file’ is displayed on the console, with each line numbered, making it easier to locate specific lines within the file.
Use case 3: View a compressed file and quit if the entire file can be displayed on the first screen
Code:
xzless --quit-if-one-screen path/to/file
Motivation: The motivation behind using this example is to quickly view the contents of a compressed file and automatically quit if the entire file can be displayed on a single screen.
Explanation: In this use case, the ‘–quit-if-one-screen’ argument is added to the ‘xzless’ command along with the path to the compressed file. This argument tells ‘xzless’ to quit immediately if it determines that the entire file can be displayed on the available screen space.
Example output: If the compressed file specified by ‘path/to/file’ can be displayed on the first screen, ‘xzless’ will display the file’s content and then quit automatically.
Conclusion:
The ‘xzless’ command is a useful tool for viewing the contents of ‘xz’ and ’lzma’ compressed files without the need for extraction. It provides additional functionality such as displaying line numbers and automatically quitting if the entire file can be displayed on the first screen. By familiarizing yourself with the examples provided, you can effectively use ‘xzless’ to navigate and explore compressed files.
