Ex Directory Listing Tool

Versions

Contents

• Versions
• Contents
• Introduction
• Features
  • Colour Output by File Type
  • Find Files in Subdirectories
  • Indent Files in Subdirectories
  • Show Hidden Files and Directories
  • Show Contents of Compressed Files
    • Encypted Compressed Files
    • Caveats on Compression Formats
  • Match Case Sensitive Filenames
  • Sort Files by Natural Ordering
  • Sort Files by Attribute
  • Sort Files by Name
  • Filter Files by Time
  • Filter Files by Type
  • Filter Files by Git Status
  • Show Total Size
  • Show File Owner
  • Show File Signature
  • Show Only Paths
  • Show Absolute Paths
  • Show Windows Paths
  • Show Windows Versions
  • Support Shell Command Pipelines
  • Support Command Line Completion

Introduction

Ex is a command line tool for listing directory contents. As such, it is intended as a replacement for:

• The ls command in Bash (but easier to use).
• The find command in Bash (but easier to use).
• The dir command on Windows (but with more features and nicer output).

It is designed to work with POSIX shell command pipelines. For example:

• If writing to a console, all attributes are shown.
• If writing to a pipe or file, attributes are hidden, and filenames are escaped.

By default, it finds files in the current directory, and lists them with file type (d for directories, l for links, - for regular files) and permissions (r for readable, w for writable, x for executable, for owner, group and other) followed by size, age and extension. Directories are also indicated by a trailing path separator:

~/example $ ex
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh

Feature requests are welcome, but it's a hobby project in a language I don't get to use in my day job, so I prefer to do all the development myself.

Features

Colour Output by File Type

Unless piped to a command or file, Ex uses coloured output according to environment variable LS_COLORS, defined in Bash:

• If LS_COLORS is present, uses the defined colours for image and video files (magenta by default), music files (cyan) and compressed files (red) by file extension.
• If LS_COLORS is present, uses the defined colours for directories (blue by default), executable files (green), resolved links (cyan) and unresolved links (red on black).
• If LS_COLORS is missing, hard codes the colours listed above for directories, executable files and symbolic links.
• Additionally on Linux, uses the dark version of the executable colour for files which are executable for a different user or group.

Find Files in Subdirectories

If Ex is run with option -s or --recurse, it finds files in subdirectories. If run with option -d or --depth, it finds files between minimum and maximum depth, where depth 0 corresponds to the current directory:

• Use -s to find files in subdirectories.
• Use -d4 or -d-4 to find files up to depth 4.
• Use -d2-4 to find files at depth 2, 3 or 4.
• Use -d2- to find files at depth 2 and beyond.

It uses path separator / in Bash, including Git Bash on Windows:

~/example $ ex -s
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/colours/
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/one two/
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

It uses path separator \\ on Windows:

C:\Users\username\example> ex.exe -s
-rwxrwxrwx   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxrwxrwx    0 B    1 day          files\
drwxrwxrwx    0 B    1 day          files\colours\
-rwxrwxrwx   20 B    3 month  .sh   files\colours\alpha.sh
-rw-rw-rw-   30 B    4 month  .txt  files\colours\blue.txt
-rw-rw-rw-   40 B    5 month  .txt  files\colours\green.txt
-rw-rw-rw-   50 B    6 month  .txt  files\colours\red.txt
drwxrwxrwx    0 B    1 day          files\numbers\
lrwxrwxrwx   60 B    7 month  .sh   files\numbers\count.sh -> C:\Users\username\numbers\count.sh
lrw-rw-rw-  999 KB   8 month  .gz   files\numbers\googolplex.gz -> C:\Users\username\numbers\googolplex.gz
lrw-rw-rw-    0 B    9 month        files\numbers\ordinals -> C:\Users\username\numbers\ordinals\
drwxrwxrwx    0 B    1 day          files\numbers\one two\
-rw-rw-rw-   70 B   10 month  .txt  files\numbers\one two\"three" 'four'.txt

It accepts wildcards like *.txt, with shortcuts like .txt for ease of typing:

~/example $ ex -s .txt
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

If given directories with a trailing separator, it lists the contents of the directories; otherwise, it lists the directories themselves:

~/example $ ex files/colours
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    files/colours/

~/example $ ex files/colours/
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  files/colours/red.txt

Indent Files in Subdirectories

If Ex is run with option -i or --indent, it indents files in subdirectories:

~/example $ ex -si
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day           ├─ colours
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh    │   ├─ alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt   │   ├─ blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt   │   ├─ green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt   │   └─ red.txt
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day           └─ numbers
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh        ├─ count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  .gz        ├─ googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month             ├─ ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day               └─ one two
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  .txt           └─ "three" 'four'.txt

Show Hidden Files and Directories

By default, Ex hides:

• Hidden files like .bashrc.
• Hidden directories like .git.
• Python cache directories __pycache__.

If run with option -a or --all-files, it shows hidden files and directories:

~/example $ ex -d1 -a
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          .hidden/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/colours/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/

If run with repeated option -aa, it also recurses into hidden directories:

~/example $ ex -d1 -aa
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          .hidden/
-rwxr--r--   15 B    1 day    .dat  .hidden/password.dat
-rwxr--r--   15 B    1 day    .dat  .hidden/secret.dat
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/colours/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/

Show Contents of Compressed Files

If run with option -z or --zip, Ex expands *.zip, *.jar, *.7z, *.tar and *.tar.gz compressed files. All other filtering and sorting options work as if the compressed files were directories:

~/zipped $ ex -s
-rw-r--r--  165 B    1 year   .7z   backup.7z
-rw-r--r--   10 KB   1 year   .tar  backup.tar
-rw-r--r--  241 B    1 year   .gz   backup.tar.gz
-rw-r--r--  123 B    1 year   .zip  backup.zip
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          backup/
-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup/file.txt

~/zipped $ ex -sz
-drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          backup/
--rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup/file.txt
zdrw-r--r--    0 B    1 year         backup.7z/
z----------  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup.7z/file.txt
zdrw-r--r--    0 B    1 year         backup.tar/
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup.tar/file.txt
zdrw-r--r--    0 B    1 year         backup.tar.gz/
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup.tar.gz/file.txt
zdrw-r--r--    0 B    1 year         backup.zip/
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup.zip/file.txt

~/zipped $ ex -sz backup.zip
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   .txt  backup.zip/file.txt

Encypted Compressed Files

If the Zip or 7-Zip file is encrypted, and Ex needs to access the file contents (e.g. to show file signatures or Windows versions; see below) it asks the user to enter a password (which is not echoed to the screen). This shows one failed and one successful attempt:

~/zipped $ ex -sz --sig backup.zip
Password for /home/username/zipped/backup.zip/file.txt?
Password for /home/username/zipped/backup.zip/file.txt?
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   41424344 ABCD  .txt  backup.zip/file.txt

It is also possible to specify a password on the command line with option --password. This is definitely NOT recommended (except in situations where you do not care about security) as this information will be retained in the command line history:

~/zipped $ ex -sz --sig --password secret backup.zip
z-rw-rw-r--  100 B    1 year   41424344 ABCD  .txt  backup.zip/file.txt

Caveats on Compression Formats

The Zip format stores file times without time zone information, so Ex interprets file times using the local time zone. This may result in misleading information for files compressed in a different time zone or daylight savings period.

The 7-Zip format appears to be relatively slow to decompress. While Ex only decompresses files if showing Windows versions (for *.exe and *.dll entries only) or file signatures (for all entries, but only requires the first four bytes) this can take a while.

Match Case Sensitive Filenames

By default, Ex uses case sensitive filename matching on Linux, and case insensitive matching on Windows (including Git Bash) to match the file system. If run with option --case or --no-case, it overrides this behaviour.

Sort Files by Natural Ordering

By default, Ex uses natural ordering on filenames:

~/ordered $ ex
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file8.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file9.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file10.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file11.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file98.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file99.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file100.txt
-rw-rw-r--    0 B    1 year   .txt  file101.txt

Sort Files by Attribute

By default, Ex shows directories before files in the current directory, groups directories and their children if recursing, and sorts by filename within those groups. If run with option -o or --order, it sorts files and directories according to the option:

• Use -on to sort files by filename.
• Use -oe to sort files by extension.
• Use -os to sort files by size (increasing).
• Use -os- to sort files by size (decreasing).
• Use -ot to sort files by time (increasing).
• Use -ot- to sort files by time (decreasing).
• Use -oest to sort files by extension then size then time.

For example:

~/example $ ex -d2 -oes
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/colours/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/one two/
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  files/colours/red.txt

Sort Files by Name

If Ex is run with option -on, it additionally shows directories in parentheses:

~/example $ ex -s -on .sh
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   alpha.sh (files/colours/)
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh   count.sh (files/numbers/) -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh

Filter Files by Time

By default, Ex shows files and directories regardless of age. If run with option -r or --recent, it filters by modified time:

• Use -ry10 to include files up to ten years old.
• Use -rm6 to include files up to six months old.
• Use -rw2 to include files up to two weeks old.
• Use -rd to include files up to one day old.
• Use -rH to include files up to one hour old.
• Use -rM5 to include files up to five minutes old.
• Use -rS30 to include files up to thirty seconds old.

For example:

~/example $ ex -s -rm5
Start                5 month
----------------------------
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/colours/
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/one two/

Filter Files by Type

By default, Ex shows files and directories regardless of type. If run with option -t or --type, it filters by type:

• Use -tf to include files.
• Use -te to include executable files.
• Use -td to include directories.
• Use -tl to include links.

For example:

~/example $ ex -s -td
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    files/colours/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    files/numbers/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    files/numbers/one two/

~/example $ ex -s -tfl
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

Filter Files by Git Status

If Ex is run with option -g or --git, it filters files by Git status, and includes the status in the output. It does not recurse into hidden directories (according to the .gitignore file, such as the target directory) to find files, and does not show directories or links.

Use -gc to include cached (with added, modified and renamed, but not untracked or ignored) files, and -gx to include all files:

~/code $ ex -s -gc
-rw-rw-r-- -----  455 B    1 day    .rs    build.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -----    1 KB   1 day    .toml  Cargo.toml
-rw-rw-r-- -----   27 KB   1 day    .md    README.md
-rw-rw-r-- -----   69 KB   1 day    .rs    src/config.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -----    2 KB   1 day    .rs    src/error.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -----   48 KB   1 day    .rs    src/finder.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -----  132 B    1 day    .rs    src/lib.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -----    5 KB   1 day    .rs    src/main.rs
-rw-rw-r-- A----   48 KB   1 day    .rs    src/option.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -M---  203 KB   1 day    .rs    src/printer.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -MR--   38 KB   1 day    .rs    src/sorter.rs

Use -ga, -gm, -gr, -gu, -gi or any combination of those flags, to include added, modified, renamed, untracked or ignored files:

~/code $ ex -s -gamrui
-rw-rw-r-- ----I   49 KB   1 day    .lock  Cargo.lock
-rw-rw-r-- ---U-  177 B    1 day    .txt   notes.txt
-rw-rw-r-- A----   48 KB   1 day    .rs    src/option.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -M---  203 KB   1 day    .rs    src/printer.rs
-rw-rw-r-- -MR--   38 KB   1 day    .rs    src/sorter.rs

Show Total Size

If Ex is run with option --total, it also shows the total file size, and number of files and directories:

~/example $ ex --total files/numbers/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day          files/numbers/one two/
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
----------------------------
Total         1 MB                  3 files 1 directory

Show File Owner

If run with option --owner on Linux, Ex shows the owning user and group, like ls -l:

~/example $ ex -s --owner .sh
-rwxr--r--  root     root       10 B    2 month  .sh   find.sh
-rwxr--r--  username username   20 B    3 month  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
lrwxr--r--  username username   60 B    7 month  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh

Show File Signature

If run with option --sig, Ex shows the first four bytes (signature) of files. Some files use these bytes to indicate the file format, e.g. ELF executable files, Zip and 7-Zip files contain .ELF, PK.. and 7z.., where UTF-16 files on Windows contain a BOM (byte order mark):

~/example $ ex -s --sig
-rwxr--r--   10 B    2 month  23212f75 #!/u  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    00000000 ....        files/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    00000000 ....        files/colours/
-rwxr--r--   20 B    3 month  23212f75 #!/u  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  424c5545 BLUE  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  47524545 GREE  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  52454400 RED.  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    00000000 ....        files/numbers/
lrwxr--r--   60 B    7 month  23212f75 #!/u  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999 KB   8 month  00000000 ....  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--    0 B    9 month  00000000 ....        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x    0 B    1 day    00000000 ....        files/numbers/one two/
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  33340000 34..  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

Show Only Paths

By default, Ex shows all file attributes (unless writing to a pipe or file) with pretty printed size and time. If run with option -x or --only-path, it shows directories and filenames only:

~/example $ ex -sx
find.sh
files/
files/colours/
files/colours/alpha.sh
files/colours/blue.txt
files/colours/green.txt
files/colours/red.txt
files/numbers/
files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
files/numbers/one two/
files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

If run with repeated option -xx, it shows all file attributes (even if writing to a pipe or file) and disables pretty printing, showing time in the local time zone with day of week:

~/example $ ex -sxx
-rwxr--r--       10  Fri 01-Nov-2024 00:00:00  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00        files/
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00        files/colours/
-rwxr--r--       20  Tue 01-Oct-2024 00:00:00  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--       30  Sun 01-Sep-2024 00:00:00  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--       40  Thu 01-Aug-2024 00:00:00  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--       50  Mon 01-Jul-2024 00:00:00  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00        files/numbers/
lrwxr--r--       60  Sat 01-Jun-2024 00:00:00  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999,999  Wed 01-May-2024 00:00:00  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--        0  Mon 01-Apr-2024 00:00:00        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00        files/numbers/one two/
-rw-r--r--       70  Fri 01-Mar-2024 00:00:00  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

If run with repeated option -xx and option -u or --utc, it additionally shows file times in UTC:

~/example $ ex -sxxu
-rwxr--r--       10  Fri 01-Nov-2024 00:00:00Z  .sh   find.sh
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00Z        files/
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00Z        files/colours/
-rwxr--r--       20  Mon 30-Sep-2024 23:00:00Z  .sh   files/colours/alpha.sh
-rw-r--r--       30  Sat 31-Aug-2024 23:00:00Z  .txt  files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--       40  Wed 31-Jul-2024 23:00:00Z  .txt  files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--       50  Sun 30-Jun-2024 23:00:00Z  .txt  files/colours/red.txt
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00Z        files/numbers/
lrwxr--r--       60  Fri 31-May-2024 23:00:00Z  .sh   files/numbers/count.sh -> /home/username/numbers/count.sh
lrw-r--r--  999,999  Tue 30-Apr-2024 23:00:00Z  .gz   files/numbers/googolplex.gz -> /home/username/numbers/googolplex.gz
lrw-r--r--        0  Sun 31-Mar-2024 23:00:00Z        files/numbers/ordinals -> /home/username/numbers/ordinals/
drwxr-xr-x        0  Tue 31-Dec-2024 00:00:00Z        files/numbers/one two/
-rw-r--r--       70  Fri 01-Mar-2024 00:00:00Z  .txt  files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

Show Absolute Paths

By default, Ex shows relative paths (unless supplied absolute paths on the command line). If run with option -q or --abs-path, it shows absolute paths:

~/example $ ex -sq .txt
-rw-r--r--   30 B    4 month  .txt  /home/username/example/files/colours/blue.txt
-rw-r--r--   40 B    5 month  .txt  /home/username/example/files/colours/green.txt
-rw-r--r--   50 B    6 month  .txt  /home/username/example/files/colours/red.txt
-rw-r--r--   70 B   10 month  .txt  /home/username/example/files/numbers/one two/"three" 'four'.txt

Show Windows Paths

By default, Ex shows directories with path separator / in Git Bash on Windows, converting D:\Path to /d/Path; but sometimes it is necessary to generate Windows paths for copying and pasting into other programs. If run with option -w or --win-path, it does this:

~/example $ ex -sqw .txt
-rw-rw-rw-   30 B    4 month  .txt  C:\Users\username\example\files\colours\blue.txt
-rw-rw-rw-   40 B    5 month  .txt  C:\Users\username\example\files\colours\green.txt
-rw-rw-rw-   50 B    6 month  .txt  C:\Users\username\example\files\colours\red.txt
-rw-rw-rw-   70 B   10 month  .txt  C:\Users\username\example\files\numbers\one two\"three" 'four'.txt

Show Windows Versions

If run with option -v or --win-ver on Windows, Ex shows file versions for executable and DLL files:

C:\Users\username\bin> ex.exe -v
-rwxrwxrwx  123 KB   1 month  2.1.0.999   .exe  binary.exe
-rw-rw-rw-   45 KB   1 month  2.1.0.1001  .dll  library.dll
-rw-rw-rw-  678 B    1 month              .txt  README.txt

Support Shell Command Pipelines

If piped to a command or file, Ex hides attributes and escapes filenames:

~/example $ ex -s .txt | cat
files/colours/blue.txt
files/colours/green.txt
files/colours/red.txt
files/numbers/one\ two/\"three\"\ \'four\'.txt

If run with option --null-path, it uses a null character as a separator:

~/example $ ex -sz .txt | xargs -0 touch

Support Command Line Completion

If Ex is run with option --completion=bash, it generates a Bash completion script, and can be called from a .bashrc file:

source <(/home/username/bin/ex --completion=bash)

If Ex is run with option --completion=ps, it generates a PowerShell completion script, and can be called from a PowerShell $PROFILE file:

C:\Users\username\bin\ex.exe --completion=ps | Out-String | Invoke-Expression