How to do things
AI Noob vs. Pro

List biggest files
List newest files
Show subdir sizes
Search in files
Replace word in files
List dir differences
Send files in LAN

Free Open Source:

Swiss File Knife

a command line
multi function tool.

remove tabs
list dir sizes
find text
filter lines
find in path
collect text
instant ftp or
http server
file transfer
send text
patch text
patch binary
run own cmd
convert crlf
dup file find
md5 lists
fromto clip
hexdump
split files
list latest
compare dirs
save typing
trace http
echo colors
head & tail
dep. listing
find classes
speed shell
zip search
zip dir list

Depeche View
Source Research
First Steps

windows GUI
automation

command line
file encryption

free external tools,
zero install effort,
usb stick compliant:

zip and unzip
diff and merge
reformat xml
reformat source

cpp sources

log tracing
mem tracing
hexdump
using printf

articles

embedded
stat. c array
stat. java array
var. c array
var. java array
view all text
as you type
surf over text
find by click
quick copy
multi view
find nearby
fullscreen
bookmarks
find by path
expressions
location jump
skip accents
clip match
filter lines
edit text
highlight
load filter
hotkey list
receive text
send in C++
send in Java
smooth scroll
touch scroll
fly wxWidgets
fly over Qt
search Java

show the first lines of one or many text files with sfk head for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Raspberry Pi.
  • Download the free Swiss File Knife Base from Sourceforge.
  • Open the Windows CMD command line, Mac OS X Terminal or Linux shell.
  • OS X : type mv sfk-mac-64.exe sfk and chmod +x sfk then ./sfk
  • Linux: type mv sfk-linux-64.exe sfk and chmod +x sfk then ./sfk. OS X and Linux syntax may differ, check the help within the tool.
sfk head [-lines=n] [-f[ollow] [filename]
sfk ... +[t]head [-lines=n]

1. print first lines of a file, optionally following changes.
   to use file content processing, provide a single filename.

2. print first text lines procuded by a previous command.
   to process chain text thead is recommended.

options
   -lines=n     print first n lines (default is 10).
   -follow      or -f waits for file changes, rereading from start.
                to post-process head output, e.g. with +filter, always
                add +loop at the end of the command sequence.
                head checks both file size and time for changes.
   -altsize     use a different method to determine the file size
                (stat instead of seek). may help if the default method
                fails to read the file, or to improve performance.

see also
   sfk filter -head=n  read and search first n lines of text files.
   sfk view     GUI tool to view all text files of a folder, then jump
                through file heads by ctrl+pageDown.

web reference
   http://stahlworks.com/sfk-head

examples
   sfk head readme.txt
      print first 10 lines of readme.txt
   type myfile.txt | sfk filter +thead -lines=50
      filter first 50 lines from stdin, via sfk filter.
   sfk head -follow status.txt +filt -high Red error +loop
      show changes in status.txt, highlight "error" in red.
 
sfk head [-lines=n] [-f[ollow] [filename]
sfk ... +[t]head [-lines=n]

1. print first lines of a file, optionally 
following changes.  to use file content
processing, provide a single filename.

2. print first text lines procuded by a 
previous command.  to process chain text
thead is recommended.

options
   -lines=n     print first n lines 
                (default is 10).
   -follow      or -f waits for file 
                    changes, rereading from
                    start.
                to post-process head output,
                e.g. with +filter, always
                add +loop at the end of the
                command sequence. head
                checks both file size and
                time for changes.
   -altsize     use a different method to 
                determine the file size
                (stat instead of seek). may
                help if the default method
                fails to read the file, or
                to improve performance.

see also
   sfk filter -head=n  read and search 
                       first n lines of
                       text files.
   sfk view     GUI tool to view all text 
                files of a folder, then
                jump through file heads by
                ctrl+pageDown.

web reference
   http://stahlworks.com/sfk-head

examples sfk head readme.txt print first 10 lines of readme.txt type myfile.txt | sfk filter +thead -lines=50 filter first 50 lines from stdin, via sfk filter. sfk head -follow status.txt +filt -high Red error +loop show changes in status.txt, highlight "error" in red.

you are viewing this page in mobile portrait mode with a limited layout. turn your device right, use a desktop browser or buy the sfk e-book for improved reading.

 
sfk is a free open-source tool, running instantly without installation efforts. no DLL's, no registry changes - just get sfk.exe from the zip package and use it (binaries for windows, linux and mac are included).

 

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