[SOLVED] "tail -n 1 filename" error while "head -n 1 filename" is ok?

type8code0 · 03-21-2011, 02:50 AM

Hi all,

I was wondering why tail –n 2 filename produce an error when I manage to do similar command on head –n 2 filename successfully

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: tail -n 2 filename
  usage: tail [+/-[n][lbc][f]] [file]
         tail [+/-[n][l][r|f]] [file]

quanta · 03-21-2011, 05:05 AM

Try `tail -2 filename`.

rgdacosta · 03-21-2011, 05:09 AM

tail -n 5 /etc/passwd works on both my Fedora and openSuSE systems.

so does tail -5 /etc/passwd

type8code0 · 03-21-2011, 06:10 AM

Thanks quanta & rgdacosta. It works! Many thanks to both of you

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: cat file
line 1
line 2
line 3
line 4
line 5

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: head -2 file
line 1
line 2

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: tail -2 file
line 4
line 5

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: head -n 2 file
line 1
line 2

Code:

SunOS{type8code0}: tail -n 2 file
usage: tail [+/-[n][lbc][f]] [file]
       tail [+/-[n][l][r|f]] [file]