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

       Copyright   ©   2024   Antonio   Diaz   Diaz.    License   GPLv2+:   GNU   GPL   version   2   or   later
       <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
       This  is  free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent
       permitted by law.

SEE ALSO

       The full documentation for zcat is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the info  and  zcat  programs  are
       properly installed at your site, the command

              info zutils

       should give you access to the complete manual.

zutils 1.13                                       January 2024                                           ZCAT(1)