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grep

How can I grep recursively, but only in files with certain extensions?

I'm working on a script to grep certain directories:

{ grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path1/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path2/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path3/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path4/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path5/; }
| mailx -s GREP [email protected]

How can I limit results only to extensions .h and .cpp?

Solution

  • Just use the --include parameter, like this:

    grep -inr --include \*.h --include \*.cpp CP_Image ~/path[12345] | mailx -s GREP [email protected]

    That should do what you want.

    To take the explanation from HoldOffHunger's answer below:

    • grep: command

    • -r: recursively

    • -i: ignore-case

    • -n: each output line is preceded by its relative line number in the file

    • --include \*.cpp: all *.cpp: C++ files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames)

    • ./: Start at current directory.