On Sat, Apr 28, 2007 at 11:47:50PM +0200, Jim Meyering wrote:
> Justin Pryzby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > On Wed, Apr 25, 2007 at 02:02:33PM +0200, Jim Meyering wrote:
> >> Justin Pryzby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >> > I see. The (generated) manpage documentation is unclear on this.
> >> > (For comparison, find.1 is clear). I'm tempted to suggest this --help
> >> > output:
> >> >
> >> > -[DH], --dereference-args dereference only symbolic links listed
> >> > under FILEs
> >> > -L, --dereference dereference all symbolic links
> >> > -P, --no-dereference don't follow any symbolic links (this is the
> >> > default)
> >> >
> >> >> With -D, du dereferences all command-line-specified symlinks.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >> FYI, I've adjusted it:
> >>
> >> * src/du.c (usage): Clarify description of --dereference-args (-D).
> >> Prompted by a report from Justin Pryzby.
> >>
> >> diff --git a/src/du.c b/src/du.c
> >> index 3fc2c90..6248aa1 100644
> >> --- a/src/du.c
> >> +++ b/src/du.c
> >> @@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for
> >> short options too.\n\
> >> -B, --block-size=SIZE use SIZE-byte blocks\n\
> >> -b, --bytes equivalent to `--apparent-size --block-size=1'\n\
> >> -c, --total produce a grand total\n\
> >> - -D, --dereference-args dereference FILEs that are symbolic links\n\
> >> + -D, --dereference-args dereference any listed FILE that is a symbolic
> >> link\n\
> > I hate to nitpick .. but, the necessary word is "only".
>
> IMHO, given the use in the synopsis of "FILE" (and precedent of using
>
> Usage: du [OPTION]... [FILE]...
> or: du [OPTION]... --files0-from=F
>
> "FILE" elsewhere in --help output), saying "listed FILE" is an unambiguous
> way of referring to names listed on the command line.
Ok the problem isn't the use of FILE, but the interaction with -L;
it's pretty clear that FILE refers to those as in the synopsis. But
it isn't clear from the current phrase that -D causes symbolic links
which are not command line args to be not dereferenced, if -L is
specified earlier than -D, this results in different behavior.
> If you want to propose some alternative wording, please
> supply the complete description.
As above, the best of which I can think:
> >> > -[DH], --dereference-args dereference only symbolic links listed
> >> > under FILEs
alternately:
"dereference symlinks only if they are included in [FILE]..."
Thanks for listening
Justin
--
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
