Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 16:28:38 +0200 (IST)
From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il>
To: Stefano Brozzi <brozzis AT mag00 DOT cedi DOT unipr DOT it>
cc: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: grep misbehaviour
In-Reply-To: <3488350C.26C0@mag00.cedi.unipr.it>
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.971208162819.4200j-100000@is>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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On Fri, 5 Dec 1997, Stefano Brozzi wrote:

> if there is a binary file in the search-path,
> produces the following error at evry line printed:
> 
> grep: writing output: No space left on drive (ENOSPC)

Nate has already posted a complete explanation.

I recommend either redirecting stdout ("grep foo/* | less") or using
the -l switch when grepping a directory where binary files could be
found.  -l causes Grep to print the files which match the pattern, but
not the matched lines.