| LOOK(1) | LOOK(1)

NAME

| look – find lines in a sorted list

SYNOPSIS

| `look` [ `−dfnixt` c ] [ string ] [ file ]

DESCRIPTION

Look consults a sorted file and prints all lines that begin with string. It uses binary search.

The following options are recognized. Options `dfnt` affect comparisons as in sort(1).
`−i` Interactive. There is no string argument; instead look takes lines from the standard input as strings to be looked up.
`−x` Exact. Print only lines of the file whose key matches string exactly.
`−d` ‘Directory’ order: only letters, digits, tabs and blanks participate in comparisons.
`−f` Fold. Upper case letters compare equal to lower case.
`−n` Numeric comparison with initial string of digits, optional minus sign, and optional decimal point.
`−t`[c] Character c terminates the sort key in the file. By default, tab terminates the key. If c is missing the entire line comprises the key.

If no file is specified, `/lib/words` is assumed, with collating sequence `df`.

FILES

| `/lib/words`

SOURCE

| `/usr/local/plan9/src/cmd/look.c`

SEE ALSO

| sort(1), grep(1)

DIAGNOSTICS

| The exit status is “`not found`” if no match is found, and “`no dictionary`” if file or the default dictionary cannot be opened.