GNU Info

(find.info)Limiting Command Size

---

Next: Interspersing File Names Prev: Safe File Name Handling Up: Multiple Files

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Limiting Command Size
.....................

   `xargs' gives you control over how many arguments it passes to the
command each time it executes it.  By default, it uses up to `ARG_MAX'
- 2k, or 20k, whichever is smaller, characters per command.  It uses as
many lines and arguments as fit within that limit.  The following
options modify those values.

`--no-run-if-empty'
`-r'
     If the standard input does not contain any nonblanks, do not run
     the command.  By default, the command is run once even if there is
     no input.

`--max-lines[=MAX-LINES]'
`-l[MAX-LINES]'
     Use at most MAX-LINES nonblank input lines per command line;
     MAX-LINES defaults to 1 if omitted.  Trailing blanks cause an
     input line to be logically continued on the next input line, for
     the purpose of counting the lines.  Implies `-x'.

`--max-args=MAX-ARGS'
`-n MAX-ARGS'
     Use at most MAX-ARGS arguments per command line.  Fewer than
     MAX-ARGS arguments will be used if the size (see the `-s' option)
     is exceeded, unless the `-x' option is given, in which case
     `xargs' will exit.

`--max-chars=MAX-CHARS'
`-s MAX-CHARS'
     Use at most MAX-CHARS characters per command line, including the
     command and initial arguments and the terminating nulls at the
     ends of the argument strings.

`--max-procs=MAX-PROCS'
`-P MAX-PROCS'
     Run up to MAX-PROCS processes at a time; the default is 1.  If
     MAX-PROCS is 0, `xargs' will run as many processes as possible at
     a time.  Use the `-n', `-s', or `-l' option with `-P'; otherwise
     chances are that the command will be run only once.