NAME

zcat - decompress and concatenate files to standard output

SYNOPSIS

zcat [options] [files]

DESCRIPTION

zcat copies each file argument to standard output in sequence. If any file given is compressed, its decompressed content is copied. If a file given does not exist, and its name does not end with one of the known extensions, zcat tries the compressed file names corresponding to the formats supported until one is found. If a file fails to decompress, zcat continues copying the rest of the files.

If a file is specified as '-', data are read from standard input, decompressed if needed, and sent to standard output. Data read from standard input must be of the same type; all uncompressed or all in the same compressed format.

If no files are specified, recursive searches examine the current working directory, and nonrecursive searches read standard input.

The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip, xz, and zstd.

Exit status is 0 if no errors occurred, 1 otherwise.

OPTIONS

-h, --help: display this help and exit
-V, --version: output version information and exit
-A, --show-all: equivalent to '-vET'
-b, --number-nonblank: number nonblank output lines
-e: equivalent to '-vE'
-E, --show-ends: display '$' at end of each line
-M, --format=<list>: process only the formats in <list>
-n, --number: number all output lines
-N, --no-rcfile: don't read runtime configuration file
-O, --force-format=<fmt>: force the input format
-q, --quiet: suppress all messages
-r, --recursive: operate recursively on directories
-R, --dereference-recursive: recursively follow symbolic links
-s, --squeeze-blank: never more than one single blank line
-t: equivalent to '-vT'
-T, --show-tabs: display TAB characters as '^I'
-v, --show-nonprinting: use '^' and 'M-' notation, except for LF and TAB
--verbose: verbose mode (show error messages)
--bz2=<command>: set compressor and options for bzip2 format
--gz=<command>: set compressor and options for gzip format
--lz=<command>: set compressor and options for lzip format
--xz=<command>: set compressor and options for xz format
--zst=<command>: set compressor and options for zstd format

Valid formats for options '-M' and '-O' are 'bz2', 'gz', 'lz', 'xz', 'zst', and 'un' for uncompressed.

REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to zutils-bug@nongnu.org
Zutils home page: http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html

COPYRIGHT