mtype Command on Linux
mtype command is part of the mtools suite, which provides utilities for interacting with MS-DOS file systems on Unix-based systems. The mtype command specifically is used to display the contents of a file from an MS-DOS file system. This is particularly useful for quickly viewing the contents of text files without copying them to your Unix environment.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the mtype command −
Syntax of mtype Command
The basic syntax for the mtype command allows you to display the contents of a file on an MS-DOS file system. Here's the general format −
mtype [options] drive:file
Where,
- [options] are optional flags that modify the behavior of the command.
- drive:file is the drive and path to the file on the MS-DOS file system. For example, ::file.txt for a file in the root directory.
mtype Command Options
The mtype command supports various options that you can use to customize its behavior. Here are some of the key options −
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -t | Translates incoming carriage return/line feeds to line feeds, making it easier to view text files formatted for MS-DOS. |
| -s | Strips the high bit from the data. This is useful for viewing text files that may have non-standard characters. |
Examples of mtype Command in Linux
Here are some practical use cases to show you how to use mtype on your system −
- Displaying a Text File with Carriage Return/Line Feed Translation
- Displaying a File with High Bit Stripped
- Combining -t and -s Options for Text Files
- Displaying a Text File from a Disk Image with Translation
Displaying a Text File with Carriage Return/Line Feed Translation
The -t option is particularly useful for viewing text files created on MS-DOS systems. It translates incoming carriage return/line feeds to line feeds, making the text more readable on Unix-based systems.
sudo mtype -i /dev/sdb1 -t ::file.txt
In this example −
- -i /dev/sdb1 specifies the device path of the DOS-formatted USB drive.
- -t translates carriage return/line feeds to line feeds.
- ::file.txt indicates the path to the text file on the USB drive.
Displaying a File with High Bit Stripped
The -s option strips the high bit from the data, which is useful for viewing text files that may contain non-standard characters.
sudo mtype -i /dev/sdb1 -s ::file.txt
In this example −
- -s strips the high bit from the data.
Combining -t and -s Options for Text Files
You can combine both options to ensure the text is properly formatted and free of non-standard characters. This is useful for comprehensive text viewing.
sudo mtype -i /dev/sdb1 -t -s ::file.txt
Displaying a Text File from a Disk Image with Translation
If you're working with a DOS disk image and need to view a text file with carriage return/line feed translation, you can use the following command −
sudo mtype -i disk.img -t ::file.txt
In this example, -i disk.img specifies the path to the disk image.
Conclusion
The mtype command, part of the mtools suite, is a powerful utility for viewing the contents of files on MS-DOS file systems from a Unix environment. By using options like -t and -s, you can customize how text files are displayed, ensuring readability and proper formatting.
Whether you're working with physical media like USB drives or disk images, mtype provides a flexible and efficient way to access and view file contents.