How to convert to a zero byte file?

Question

HI, in unix there are number of files in my directory. i want to change all the files to zero byte files. is that possible on a single command line? for example: ``` -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 434 Jan 8 14:36 pprbc_NL.cpp -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 488 Jan 8 14:37 pprbc_TreeBuild.cpp -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 783 Jan 8 14:37 pprbc_UPDwm.cpp ``` i want to change these to ``` -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 0 Jan 8 14:36 pprbc_NL.cpp -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 0 Jan 8 14:37 pprbc_TreeBuild.cpp -rw-r--r-- 1 sumanma dev 0 Jan 8 14:37 pprbc_UPDwm.cpp ``` I am using `tcsh`

Accepted Answer

Yes you can.

Try this

```
for i in *
do
 echo -n > $i
done
```

(Assuming bash here but the basic idea is the echo).

Edit : One liner (bash). You'll need the semicolons etc. which you won't need in the multiline version.

```
 for i in * ; do echo -n > $i ; done
```

Edit: If you're stuck using `tcsh`, you can always invoke bash to run a one liner like so

```
 bash -c 'for i in * ; do echo -n > $i ; done'
```

How to convert to a zero byte file?

Solution

Problem