UNIX: Strange output if piped to less

Question

If I execute ls command with pipe to less, I get strange output

ESC[00mESC[00mfile1.ccESC[00m
ESC[00file2.ccESC[00m
ESC[00file3.ccESC[00m

(means ESC string in between).

Without ls, the output is:

file1.cc    file2.cc    file3.cc

How to correct this?

msw · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-15 11:35:42Z

4

I'm guessing that you have the --color=always option to ls set, either through an alias, functions or the LS_COLORS environment variable and ls is sending color directives to a non-terminal (that is, your pipe to less).

edited Dec 15, 2015 at 11:35

answered Oct 9, 2010 at 15:20

msw

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Jouni K. Seppänen · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-09 15:21:36Z

3

Use less -R or set the LESS environment variable to -R.

answered Oct 9, 2010 at 15:21

Jouni K. Seppänen

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ninjalj · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-09 15:21:11Z

1

What you're seeing are ANSI escape sequences for setting colors. Run ls --color=no.

answered Oct 9, 2010 at 15:21

ninjalj

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Michał Trybus · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-09 15:22:11Z

1

You need to make less output raw control characters using less -r.

answered Oct 9, 2010 at 15:22

Michał Trybus

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1 Comment

Jouni K. Seppänen Over a year ago

The upper-case option -R avoids some line-breaking problems.

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