Limiting Command Size
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`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.