4.39. file

Previously, the file utility always checked a section of the core file which was only used by FreeBSD when looking up command names. As a consequence, an incorrect command name could be reported. This update checks this offset only if the core file was generated on a FreeBSD plattfrom. Now, the file utility displays the correct file name.

Previously, the file utility did not correctly recognize file system dumps generated by the "dump" utility on PowerPC and IBM System z platforms which were wrongly identified as a "JVT NAL" sequence. This update modifies the order of the magic patterns. Now, the file utility correctly identifies these dumps.

Previously, the Note field stored in Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) binaries was wrongly processed twice. As a consequence, the message "for GNU/Linux X.Y.Z" was displayed twice for certain binary files. This update modifies the process. Now, the Note field is processed only once.

Previously, the definition for the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type "XML" was missing in the magic file. As a consequence, the MIME type for XML files was not displayed. This update adds this MIME type to the magic file.

Previously, the file utility did not recognize the swap file system on PowerPC platforms. Now, a new magic pattern for swap on PowerPC platforms is added and the file utility now identifies the swapspace correctly.

Previously, the "msword" MIME type was listed two times in DOC/XLS magic patterns. As a consequence, the "application/msword" MIME type was displayed twice for certain Microsoft Office 2007 files. Now, the second MIME type definition is removed.

Previously, the magic pattern for detecting the PPD files did not work as expected. As a consequence, the file utility truncated the "version" string of certain PPD files. This update displays the "version" string correctly and no longer truncates the version number.

Previously, the manual page did not mention that a 0 exit code was returned when input files were not found. This update adds the missing information to the manual page.

Previously, the file utility always attempted to read complete files from stdin to get additional information about ELF binary even when the file was not an ELF binary. As a consequence, the process used a large amount of memory and took a long time. This update detects if a file is an ELF binary using the ELF magic bytes and reads the complete file only when the file is an ELF binary.

Previously, the file utility could wrongly recognize gzip files as FLC files. This update changes the order of gzip and FLC magic patterns. Now, the file utility identifies gzip files correctly.

Previously, the GFS1 and GFS2 file systems shared the same magic number in the superblock which the file utility used to identify the GFS2 file system. As a consequence, the file utility wrongly recognized GFS2 file systems as GFS1 file systems. This update adds a new magic pattern for the GFS2 file system. Now, the file utility identifies GFS2 correctly.

Previously, two magic patterns for XML identification were wrongly merged into one. As a consequence, the file utility could not identify the MIME type for XML files starting with "?xml". This update splits these two patterns. Now, the correct MIME type is displayed.

Previously, the file utility could wrongly recognize JPEG files as Minix file systems. This update changes the order of JPEG and Minix magic patterns. Now the file utility recognizes JPEG files correctly.