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I used locate binary many time to search something on my 1TB HDD.

Most of the time, I got many result and I have to read each line to get what exactly I'm looking for.

It would be great if the locate can output the matched pattern with color ( just like grep --color)

Is there any way to do so for locate command ?

SHW
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2 Answers2

2

The easiest way is to write a simple shell script which combines locate and grep:

Create a file somewhere in your $PATH (e.g. /usr/local/bin/clocate) with 

#!/bin/sh
locate --regex "$1" | grep --color=auto "$1"

then make it executable, e.g.

chmod +x /usr/local/bin/clocate

and use it like locate. The script does only accept one pattern.

Another way is to use a shell function: If you are using bash as your shell, you can add to your $HOME/.bashrc the following line:

clocate() { locate --regex  "$1" | grep --color=auto "$1"; }

You need to rerun bash or re-source your .bashrc before you can the new command.

Please note the --regex option for locate. You need to write .* instead of * to match any number of characters.

jofel
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This for two patterns The first pattern in the command line, the second when invited.

#!/bin/sh
echo "Type the second argument."
read constraint
locate -i "$1" | grep -i $(echo "$constraint") |grep -i --color=auto -e $(echo "$1") -e $(echo "$constraint")
exit
Nolby
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