FAQs
To look at the contents of a text-based configuration file, use cat or less . Generally, you'll use less because it has more options (such as searching). To use less , enter the command name followed by the name of the file you want to view.
How do I make Terminal more readable on Mac? ›
Use Text settings in Terminal to change the font, text, color, and cursor options for a Terminal window profile. To change these settings in the Terminal app on your Mac, choose Terminal > Settings, click Profiles, select a profile, then click Text.
How to see files in Mac Terminal? ›
Method 3. Use Terminal
- To show hidden files and folders, enter this command into Terminal: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE ; killall Finder.
- To hide those files again, enter this command into Terminal: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE ; killall Finder.
How do I show the contents of a text file in Terminal? ›
To display the content of the original file run the following file command in the terminal:
- cat <file name> The less Command. ...
- less filename.txt. The head Command. ...
- head < file name> The tail Command. ...
- tail <file name> The more Command. ...
- more Filename.txt. The nl Command.
How do I read a text file on a Mac? ›
In the TextEdit app on your Mac, choose File > Open. Select the document, then click Open. If your document is stored in iCloud Drive, you can select TextEdit in the iCloud section of the sidebar, then double-click your document. See Use iCloud Drive to store documents.
How to display the contents of a text file in command prompt? ›
In the Windows Command shell, type is a built in command which displays the contents of a text file. Use the type command to view a text file without modifying it. In PowerShell, type is a built-in alias to the Get-Content cmdlet, which also displays the contents of a file, but using a different syntax.
How do I make text easier to read on Mac? ›
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Accessibility in the sidebar. Click Display, scroll down to Text, then click “Text size.” Drag the slider to the right to increase the text size on the desktop, in app sidebars, and in the apps listed (if they are set to Use Preferred Reading Size).
How do I see a list of files in terminal? ›
Use the ls command to display the contents of a directory. The ls command writes to standard output the contents of each specified Directory or the name of each specified File, along with any other information you ask for with the flags.
How can I see all files in Mac? ›
Step-by-Step Guide. How To View All Files On Mac:
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- Click on the 'View' menu at the top and select 'as List' or use the shortcut 'Command + 2'.
- Browse through the folders using the disclosure triangles to view their contents.
How do I get file info on my Mac terminal? ›
Get file, folder and disk information on Mac
- On your Mac, in a Finder window or on the desktop, select the item.
- Choose File > Get Info, or press Command-I. An information window opens for the item.
In the Terminal app on your Mac, invoke a command-line editor by typing the name of the editor, followed by a space and then the name of the file you want to open. If you want to create a new file, type the editor name, followed by a space and the pathname of the file.
What is the command used to display text files? ›
The cat command is the simplest way to view the contents of a file. It displays the contents of the file(s) specified on to the output terminal. Sometimes, we might want to number the lines in the output.
How do I read the contents of a text file? ›
There are three ways to read data from a text file:
- Using read()
- Using readline()
- Using readlines()
How do I show text messages on my Mac? ›
Set up iPhone to get SMS messages on Mac
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages.
- Tap Text Message Forwarding. ...
- Turn on your Mac in the list of devices.
- If you're not using two-factor authentication, a six-digit activation code appears on your Mac; enter this code on your iPhone, then tap Allow.
How do I output a command to a text file on a Mac? ›
Use two right angle brackets to append output from a command to a file. In addition to using file redirection, you can also redirect the output of one command to the input of another using the vertical bar character, or pipe.
How do I search for text in a file in Terminal Mac? ›
To locate a string within a file, use the grep tool. The grep tool searches the named input files for lines containing a match to the given pattern. By default, grep prints the matching lines.