Touch
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| − | touch creates empty files | + | '''touch''' creates empty files, or updates the modification times on existing files if the user running '''touch''' has write permission to do so. |
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| + | If you attempt to '''touch''' a file which already exists but you do not have write permissions to, or '''touch''' a new file in a directory in which you do not have write permissions, you will get a "Permission Denied" error. Otherwise it quietly succeeds and simply updates the mtime on the file / creates a new file with the specified name. | ||
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| + | This is mostly useful for scripting operations in which you want to make sure a file exists to be opened before attempting to open it. | ||
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| + | [[Category:System Commands]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:10, 29 September 2004
touch creates empty files, or updates the modification times on existing files if the user running touch has write permission to do so.
If you attempt to touch a file which already exists but you do not have write permissions to, or touch a new file in a directory in which you do not have write permissions, you will get a "Permission Denied" error. Otherwise it quietly succeeds and simply updates the mtime on the file / creates a new file with the specified name.
This is mostly useful for scripting operations in which you want to make sure a file exists to be opened before attempting to open it.
