.TH strings "" "" Command
.PC "Print all character strings from a file"
\fBstrings [\-dopx] [\-\fIlength\^\fB] [\fIfile ... \fB]\fR
.PP
.HS
.SH Options:
.IC \fB\-d\fR
Print offset of each string in decimal
.IC \fB\-o\fR
Print offset of each string in octal
.IC \fB\-p\fR
Mask out the parity bit
.IC \fB\-x\fR
Print offset of each string in hexadecimal
.HE
.B strings
looks for ASCII strings in a binary file.
A ``string'' is defined as any sequence of four
or more printable characters.
.B strings
is useful for identifying unknown object files, or for looking at the
messages printed by commands.
You can also use it as a filter if
.I file
is not specified.
.PP
.B strings
recognizes the following command-line options:
.RS
.IP \fB-d\fR 0.4i
Precede each string by its offset in the file in decimal.
.IP \fB-o\fR
Precede each string by its offset in the file in octal.
.IP \fB-p\fR
Strip the parity bits of all characters in the string prior to comparison.
.IP \fB-x\fR
Precede each string by its offset in the file in hexadecimal.
.RE
.PP
Finally, the option
.BI - length
forces
.B strings
to use
.I length
as the minimum length for a printable string.
.SH "See Also"
.Xr "commands," commands
.Xr "isprint," isprint
.Xr "od" od
