pavement

Touch

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touch creates empty files
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'''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]

Revision as of 10:09, 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.

[Category:System Commands]

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