# command to find files **URL:** \ **Category:** UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers\ **Created:** [April 16, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484 "2011-04-16T10:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/1 "2011-04-16T10:44:21Z")
Hi folks, What command/commands I have to run to find the files including their folder/subfolder which contain word-a, word-b etc. e.g. I expect to find the names of the files including their folders which contain "domain", "subdomain/sub domain", "free domain". etc. TIA B.R. satimis ---
**Author:** ![ctsgnb](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/ctsgnb/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@ctsgnb](https://community.unix.com/u/ctsgnb)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/2 "2011-04-16T10:58:38Z")
```nohighlight ls -R | grep -E 'word-[ab]' ``` ? ---
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 11:06am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/3 "2011-04-16T11:06:55Z")
> [@ctsgnb](#): > > ```plaintext > ls -R | grep -E 'word-[ab]' > > ``` > > ? Hi, Whether run; ```plaintext $ ls -R | grep -E 'domain subdomain sub domain free domain' /path/to/database ``` TIA B.R. satimis ---
**Author:** ![AlphaLexman](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/alphalexman/32/2160_2.png) [@AlphaLexman](https://community.unix.com/u/AlphaLexman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/4 "2011-04-16T18:11:20Z")
> [@satimis](#): > > I expect to find the names of the files including their folders which contain "domain", "subdomain/sub domain", "free domain". etc. This should work, ```plaintext find . -path "*domain*" 2> /dev/null ``` Will find files that do have 'domain' in the filename, and will find files that don't have 'domain' in the filename, but exist in a directory with 'domain' in the dirname. You shouldn't need to search for `"subdomain/sub domain", "free domain". etc.` because the original search for 'domain' will find them all. ---
**Author:** ![methyl](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/methyl/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@methyl](https://community.unix.com/u/methyl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:01am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/5 "2011-04-17T11:01:15Z")
In case the previous post is not right, my interpretation is: ```nohighlight find . -name "*domain*" -print ``` ---
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/6 "2011-04-17T11:08:55Z")
> [@methyl](#): > > In case the previous post is not right, my interpretation is: > > ```plaintext > find . -name "*domain*" -print > > ``` Hi, I expect finding the files having "domain" in the content, not the filename. Thanks B.R. satimis ---
**Author:** ![methyl](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/methyl/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@methyl](https://community.unix.com/u/methyl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/7 "2011-04-17T12:32:56Z")
Really needs an example. This is what I think you mean (find the names of files which contain the string "domain" in the content). ```nohighlight find . -type f -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; ``` ---
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/8 "2011-04-17T22:01:55Z")
> [@methyl](#): > > Really needs an example. > > This is what I think you mean (find the names of files which contain the string "domain" in the content). > > ```plaintext > find . -type f -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; > > ``` Hi, I have files on /path/to/directories having contents on lists of websites offering free domain and subdomain. I also have files having contents about registration to some websites. I tried ```plaintext find /path/to/directories -type f -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; ``` I couldn't find them. B.R. satimis ---
**Author:** ![Corona688](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/corona688/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Corona688](https://community.unix.com/u/Corona688)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/9 "2011-04-17T22:33:08Z")
Please post the exact command you typed, also, the contents of the file you expected to match. it might also be a permissions problem. did you have permissions to look in these dirs? ---
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/10 "2011-04-17T22:41:36Z")
> [@corona688](#): > > Please post the exact command you typed, also, the contents of the file you expected to match. > > it might also be a permissions problem. did you have permissions to look in these dirs? $ find /home/satimis/Documents\_from\_2001\_2010/ -type f -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; There are lot of files generated including .js/html/htm etc. Those files which I want to find are in .txt and .doc format. I think it would be better to narrow down the search. I have permission reading those directories. Besides I also tried the command with "sudo" added. satimis ---
**Author:** ![Corona688](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/corona688/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Corona688](https://community.unix.com/u/Corona688)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/11 "2011-04-18T12:41:47Z")
> [@satimis](#): > > I think it would be better to narrow down the search. Naturally. We couldn't help you with this until you actually told us. ```plaintext find /home/satimis/Documents_from_2001_2010/ -type f '(' -name '*.txt' -o -name '*.doc' ')' -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; ``` > [@](#): > > Besides I also tried the command with "sudo" added. added where? Also: > [@corona688](#): > > Please post the exact command you typed, also, the contents of the file you expected to match. There may be a reason it's not matching. ---
**Author:** ![satimis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/satimis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@satimis](https://community.unix.com/u/satimis)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/command-to-find-files/286484/12 "2011-04-18T23:06:32Z")
Hi, Thanks for your assistance. > [@corona688](#): > > ```plaintext > find /home/satimis/Documents_from_2001_2010/ -type f '(' -name '*.txt' -o -name '*.doc' ')' -exec grep -l "domain" {} \; > > ``` The command works. However it generates lot of files. Years ago, I registered several subdomains with some websites. Because of inactive I suppos they have been deleted. I need to re-register them. Unfortunately I can't recall those websites nor the name of the company. What I can remember is all subdomain starting with "satimis" e.g. [satimis.aaa.com](http://satimis.aaa.com) or [satimis.bbb.net](http://satimis.bbb.net) or [satimis.ccc.org](http://satimis.ccc.org) etc. If I expect to narrow down the searching please advise what shall I add to your command. Thanks > [@](#): > > added where? At the beginning of your command. Because some files may be owned by root. B.R. satimis