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From:	Eric Sosman <esosman AT acm DOT org>
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Subject:	Re: how to determine if a file is text/binary
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Date:	Mon, 29 Apr 2002 22:08:47 GMT
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xeon wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm wondering, how to determine is a file is a text file, or a binary
> file, programatically. I'm thinking about reading 4 bytes from the
> file and test them if they're in the range of usual text ([a-z],
> [A-Z], etc. The 4 bytes is read from the following locations : 1st
> byte, last byte, and 2 randomly selected offset inside the file. Is
> this enough?

    Not really.  The fundamental problem is in formulating precise
definitions of "text file" and "binary file:" try to do so and you'll
quickly discover the kinds of trouble you'll get into.

    For example, is a file containing "abc\n" a text file of one
three-letter newline-terminated line, or is it a binary file
storing the number 0x6162630a ==  1633837834?  Or 'tother way
round, if you find a byte with the high bit set are you looking
at a binary file or at a text file containing the character "ß"?

    That said, you can make a guess of sorts, although you'll never
be 100% accurate.  Take a look at the source of the "file" program
for some ideas.

-- 
Eric Sosman
esosman AT acm DOT org

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