How to Fix: find: ‘ls’ terminated by signal 13 error
Script error fix for finding and deleting old files.
📋 Table of Contents
The 'find: ‘ls’ terminated by signal 13' error occurs when the 'ls' command is interrupted by a signal, causing the 'find' command to terminate prematurely. This issue affects users who run scripts that use 'find' with commands like 'ls', which can be problematic if not executed correctly.
This error can be frustrating for users who rely on scripts to automate file management tasks. However, with the right troubleshooting steps and fixes, it is possible to resolve this issue and ensure that files are deleted and logged correctly.
⚠️ Common Causes
- The primary reason for this error is the use of 'ls' within a pipeline in the 'find' command. The 'ls' command is not designed to be used as part of a pipeline, which can lead to unexpected behavior and termination by signal. This is due to the fact that 'ls' uses the output of its previous command to generate its own output, causing an infinite loop when used in this way.
- Another possible cause is the incorrect use of the '-' character for redirecting input/output streams. In this case, the script is attempting to use both redirection operators ('|') and the '-' character simultaneously, which can lead to ambiguous redirects and signal termination.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
Fixing the Issue by Redefining the 'ls' Command
- Step 1: To resolve this issue, redefine the 'ls' command within the script using the '-d' option, which allows 'find' to use 'ls' as a file listing command. Replace the original 'ls' line with: `ls -d {} | cut -d '/' -f 1`
- Step 2: This redefinition of 'ls' ensures that it only lists the directory names and does not attempt to list the entire file system, thus preventing the infinite loop and signal termination.
- Step 3: Additionally, replace the original 'echo was deleted on `date`' line with: `echo was deleted on [1;31m$(date)[0m`
- Step 4: This modification ensures that the date is displayed in a colored format, making it easier to read and understand.
Fixing the Issue by Correctly Redirecting Input/Output Streams
- Step 1: Another approach to resolving this issue is to correctly redirect input/output streams using parentheses. Replace the original 'find' line with: `find $HOME/OldLogFiles/ -type f -mtime -7 -exec bash -c 'ls -latr {} | paste - - > $log' \\; -exec rm -f {} \;
- Step 2: This modification ensures that the output of 'ls' is redirected correctly, preventing ambiguous redirects and signal termination.
🎯 Final Words
To resolve the 'find: ‘ls’ terminated by signal 13' error, redefine the 'ls' command within the script using the '-d' option or correctly redirect input/output streams using parentheses. By making these adjustments, users can ensure that files are deleted and logged correctly, and avoid this frustrating error.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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