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Groups > comp.lang.c > #395695

Re: is_binary_file()

From scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
Subject Re: is_binary_file()
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
References <10gvvh8$1vv6e$1@dont-email.me> <87fr9ofks9.fsf@example.invalid>
Message-ID <bRZYQ.2361$8WR2.310@fx46.iad> (permalink)
Organization UsenetServer - www.usenetserver.com
Date 2025-12-06 17:37 +0000

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Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> writes:
>Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> writes:
>> Am I close? Missing anything you'd consider to be (or not) needed?
>
>There is no completely reliable way to do this, but you might be
>able to make a reasonable guess.  A binary file might happen to
>contain only byte values that represent printable characters.
>
>> <stdio.h>
>>
>> /*
>>  * Checks if a file is likely a binary by examining its content
>>  * for NULL bytes (0x00) or unusual control characters.
>>  * Returns 0 if text, 1 if binary or file open failure.
>>  */
>
>Please use the term "null bytes", not "NULL bytes".  NULL is a standard
>macro that expands to a null pointer constant.

The proper term IMO is 'NUL' byte as defined by ASCII.

Some older operating systems actually stored the file type in
metadata (like the unix inode).   The Burroughs MCP filesystems
included a file-type field in the metadata for a file; the CANDE editor
would use this to determine the programming language (and the associated
language formatting rules a la COBOL or FORTRAN vis-a-vis column
assignments for the sequence number, program verbs, etc.

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Thread

is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-06 01:05 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-12-06 01:41 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-12-06 02:00 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 17:40 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 11:35 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-10 15:07 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-12-10 19:00 +0200
            Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-10 17:18 +0000
              Re: is_binary_file() Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2025-12-10 19:42 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2025-12-10 22:37 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-12-10 22:35 -0500
                Re: is_binary_file() bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2025-12-11 11:46 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-11 12:53 +0100
          Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 18:42 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-12-10 15:58 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 18:44 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-10 12:46 -0500
          Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 18:45 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 18:41 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 20:57 +0000
            Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-10 22:07 +0000
              Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-11 01:09 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-11 12:33 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-12 19:25 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-12 22:54 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2025-12-12 15:33 -0800
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-13 00:20 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-13 02:32 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-16 00:26 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-16 17:24 +0100
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-17 03:19 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-17 07:57 +0100
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-17 19:35 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-18 08:44 +0100
                Re: is_binary_file() bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2025-12-18 12:49 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-18 14:06 +0100
                Re: is_binary_file() gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2025-12-18 13:17 +0000
                Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-18 16:03 +0100
  Re: is_binary_file() Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-12-05 17:42 -0800
    Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-06 17:37 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-12-06 16:05 -0800
      Re: is_binary_file() Louis Krupp <lkrupp@invalid.pssw.com.invalid> - 2025-12-07 03:43 -0700
        Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-07 16:47 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-27 03:18 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 17:46 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2025-12-06 02:42 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2025-12-06 12:42 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-06 17:40 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-12-06 18:04 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-06 19:06 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-12-06 21:16 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 17:48 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2025-12-08 19:26 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2025-12-08 19:42 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-09 21:49 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-12-06 03:14 -0500
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 17:56 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-08 20:16 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-12-09 09:03 +0100
          Re: is_binary_file() Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2025-12-09 09:43 +0000
            Re: is_binary_file() Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2025-12-09 10:17 +0000
              Re: is_binary_file() Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2025-12-09 20:15 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2025-12-09 12:22 +0100
            Re: is_binary_file() Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-12-09 20:26 -0500
          Re: is_binary_file() Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-12-09 06:38 -0500
            Re: is_binary_file() Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-12-09 17:31 +0200
            Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-28 02:49 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-28 00:12 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2025-12-28 00:43 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-06 17:33 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-07 19:04 +0100
  Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-06 20:37 -0500
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 18:02 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-09 16:29 -0500
      Re: is_binary_file() Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-12-10 11:21 +0200
        Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-10 12:48 -0500
      Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 11:38 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-12-07 03:43 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 18:04 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2025-12-08 18:44 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-09 19:53 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-12-09 15:42 -0800
            Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 11:41 +0000
              Re: is_binary_file() Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-12-10 15:20 -0800
                Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-10 23:59 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-09 16:23 -0500
  Re: is_binary_file() Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2025-12-07 19:01 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2025-12-07 21:51 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2025-12-07 22:49 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-08 13:51 +0100
        Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-08 16:04 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-08 19:27 +0100
        Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-27 05:51 +0000
          Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-29 16:06 +0100
            Re: is_binary_file() mjos_examine <m6502x64@gmail.com> - 2025-12-29 11:49 -0500
              Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-29 20:49 +0100
            Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-30 01:52 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-12-08 16:02 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 18:07 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-27 03:13 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-12-27 01:28 -0500
        Re: is_binary_file() Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-12-27 21:27 +0000
        Re: is_binary_file() antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-12-28 05:46 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2025-12-07 14:42 -0800
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-08 18:09 +0000
      Re: is_binary_file() "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2025-12-09 12:45 -0800
  Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-08 20:36 +0100
    Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-08 20:50 +0100
      Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-09 15:09 +0100
    Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-10 09:18 +0100
  Re: is_binary_file() Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-12-08 14:43 -0800
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-09 21:38 +0000
  Re: is_binary_file() Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2025-12-11 17:33 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2025-12-11 19:10 +0100
    Re: is_binary_file() "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2025-12-11 14:56 -0800
    Re: is_binary_file() James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-12-11 18:15 -0500
    Re: is_binary_file() Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2025-12-12 02:19 +0100
    Re: is_binary_file() Michael Sanders <porkchop@invalid.foo> - 2025-12-14 08:27 +0000
    Re: is_binary_file() Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2025-12-17 00:52 -0600

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