{ "mode": "man", "parameter": "multitail", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/multitail/1/json", "generated": "2026-06-03T03:32:54Z", "synopsis": "multitail [options]\noptions: [-cs|-Cs|-c-] [-s] [-i] inputfile [-i anotherinputfile] [...]", "sections": { "NAME": { "content": "MultiTail - browse through several files at once\n", "subsections": [] }, "SYNOPSIS": { "content": "multitail [options]\n\noptions: [-cs|-Cs|-c-] [-s] [-i] inputfile [-i anotherinputfile] [...]\n\n", "subsections": [] }, "DESCRIPTION": { "content": "The program MultiTail lets you view one or multiple files like the original tail program. The\ndifference is that it creates multiple windows on your console (with ncurses). It can also\nmonitor wildcards: if another file matching the wildcard has a more recent modification date,\nit will automatically switch to that file. That way you can, for example, monitor a complete\ndirectory of files. Merging of 2 or even more logfiles is possible. It can also use colors\nwhile displaying the logfiles (through regular expressions), for faster recognition of what\nis important and what not. It can also filter lines (again with regular expressions). It has\ninteractive menus for editing given regular expressions and deleting and adding windows. One\ncan also have windows with the output of shell scripts and other software. When viewing the\noutput of external software, MultiTail can mimic the functionality of tools like 'watch' and\nsuch. When new mail arrives for the current user, the statuslines will become green. To reset\nthis \"mail has arrived\"-state, press ' ' (a space). For help at any time, press F1.\n\n", "subsections": [] }, "OPTIONS": { "content": "", "subsections": [ { "name": "-i file", "content": "Select a file to monitor. You can have multiple -i file parameters. You only need to\nadd -i file in front of a filename if the filename starts with a dash ('-').\n", "flag": "-i" }, { "name": "-I file", "content": "Same as -i file but add the output to the previous window (so the output is merged).\n", "flag": "-I" }, { "name": "-iw file interval", "content": "-Iw file interval Like '-i'/'-I' but expects the parameter to be a wildcard and the\nsecond(!) an interval. Initially MultiTail will start monitoring the first file with\nthe most recent modification time. Every interval it will check if any new files were\ncreated (or modified) and start tailing that one. *Don't forget* to put quotation\nmarks around the filename as otherwhise the shell will try to substitute them!\n" }, { "name": "-l command", "content": "Command to execute in a window. Parameter is the command. Do not forget to use \"'s if\nthe external command needs parameter! (e.g. -l \"ping host\").\n", "flag": "-l" }, { "name": "-L command", "content": "Same as -l but add the output to the previous window (so the output is merged).\n", "flag": "-L" }, { "name": "-j", "content": "", "flag": "-j" }, { "name": "-J -j", "content": "", "flag": "-j" }, { "name": "--mergeall", "content": "Merge all of the following files into the same window (see '--no-mergeall').\n", "long": "--mergeall" }, { "name": "--no-mergeall", "content": "Stop merging all files into one window (see '--mergeall');\n", "long": "--no-mergeall" }, { "name": "--no-repeat", "content": "When the same line is repeated, it will be suppressed while printing a \"Last message\nrepeated x times\" message.\n", "long": "--no-repeat" }, { "name": "--mark-interval x", "content": "Print every 'x' seconds a mark-line when nothing else was printed.\n", "long": "--mark-interval" }, { "name": "-q i path", "content": "Check path for new files with interval 'i', all in new windows. One can enter paths\nhere understood by the shell. E.g. \"/tmp/*\". Note: do not forget to add quotes around\nthe pathname to prevent the shell from parsing it!\n", "flag": "-q" }, { "name": "-Q i path", "content": "Like -q: but merge them all in one window.\n", "flag": "-Q" }, { "name": "--new-only", "content": "For -q/-Q: only create windows for files created after MultiTail was started.\n", "long": "--new-only" }, { "name": "--closeidle x", "content": "Close windows when more then 'x' seconds no new data was processed.\n", "long": "--closeidle" }, { "name": "-a", "content": "Note: you need to put \"-a file\" BEFORE to the file you're monitoring!\n", "flag": "-a" }, { "name": "-A", "content": "Also see the note for \"-a\".\n", "flag": "-A" }, { "name": "-g", "content": "", "flag": "-g" }, { "name": "-G", "content": "", "flag": "-G" }, { "name": "-S", "content": "", "flag": "-S" }, { "name": "-t title", "content": "With this switch, \"title\" is displayed in the statusline instead of the filename or\ncommandline.\n", "flag": "-t" }, { "name": "-n", "content": "Number of lines to tail initially. The default depends on the size of the terminal-\nwindow.\n", "flag": "-n" }, { "name": "-N", "content": "Like -n but this parameter will be used for all files/commands you tail after this pa‐\nrameter.\n", "flag": "-N" }, { "name": "-r interval", "content": "Restart the command (started with -l/-L) after it has exited. With interval you can\nset how long to sleep before restarting.\n", "flag": "-r" }, { "name": "-R interval", "content": "Restarts a command like -r only this one shows the difference in output compared to\nthe previous run.\n", "flag": "-R" }, { "name": "-rc / -Rc interval", "content": "Like -r / -R but clears the window before each iteration.\n" }, { "name": "-h", "content": "", "flag": "-h" }, { "name": "-f", "content": "", "flag": "-f" }, { "name": "--follow-all", "content": "For all files after this switch: follow the following filename, not the descriptor.\n", "long": "--follow-all" }, { "name": "-fr filter", "content": "Use the predefined filter(s) from the configfile.\n" }, { "name": "-e", "content": "", "flag": "-e" }, { "name": "-ex", "content": "The command gets as commandline parameter the whole matching line.\n" }, { "name": "-eX", "content": "expression with '(' and ')'.\n" }, { "name": "-ec", "content": "" }, { "name": "-eC", "content": "matches inverted.\n" }, { "name": "-E", "content": "", "flag": "-E" }, { "name": "-v", "content": "", "flag": "-v" }, { "name": "-s", "content": "", "flag": "-s" }, { "name": "-sw", "content": "" }, { "name": "-sn", "content": "" }, { "name": "-wh", "content": "" }, { "name": "-cS scheme", "content": "Show the next given file using the colorscheme selected with 'scheme' (as defined in\nmultitail.conf).\n" }, { "name": "-CS scheme", "content": "Show all following files using the colorscheme selected with 'scheme' (as defined in\nmultitail.conf).\n" }, { "name": "-csn", "content": "" }, { "name": "-cs", "content": "" }, { "name": "-c", "content": "", "flag": "-c" }, { "name": "-Cs", "content": "" }, { "name": "-C", "content": "", "flag": "-C" }, { "name": "-Cf", "content": "Show all following files in color depending on field selected with fieldindex. Fields\nare delimited by the defined delimiter.\n" }, { "name": "-cf", "content": "Show the next file in color depending on field selected with fieldindex. Fields are\ndelimited by the defined delimiter.\n" }, { "name": "-ci color", "content": "Use a specific color. Usefull when merging multiple outputs.\n" }, { "name": "-cT terminalmode", "content": "Interpret terminal codes. Only ANSI supported at this time.\n" }, { "name": "-c-", "content": "" }, { "name": "-C-", "content": "" }, { "name": "-ts", "content": "" }, { "name": "-Z color", "content": "Specify the color-attributes for the markerline.\n", "flag": "-Z" }, { "name": "-T", "content": "", "flag": "-T" }, { "name": "-d", "content": "", "flag": "-d" }, { "name": "-D", "content": "", "flag": "-D" }, { "name": "-du", "content": "" }, { "name": "-z", "content": "", "flag": "-z" }, { "name": "-u", "content": "", "flag": "-u" }, { "name": "-m nlines", "content": "Set buffersize Set nlines to 0 (zero) if you want no limits on the buffering.\n", "flag": "-m" }, { "name": "-mb", "content": "" }, { "name": "-M nlines", "content": "Set the buffersize on ALL following files.\n", "flag": "-M" }, { "name": "-p x [y]", "content": "Set linewrap: a = print everything including linewrap. l = just show everything start‐\ning at the left until the rightside of the window is reached. r = show everything\nstarting from the right of the line. s = show everything starting with the process‐\nname. S = show everything starting after the processname. o = show everything starting\nat offset 'y'.\n", "flag": "-p", "arg": "[y]" }, { "name": "-P x [y]", "content": "Like -p but for all following windows.\n", "flag": "-P", "arg": "[y]" }, { "name": "-ke", "content": "" }, { "name": "-kr x y", "content": "Strip parts of the input starting at offset x and ending (not including!) offset y.\n" }, { "name": "-kc x y", "content": "Strip parts of the input: strip column 'y' with delimiter 'x'.\n" }, { "name": "-ks", "content": "" }, { "name": "-w", "content": "", "flag": "-w" }, { "name": "-b", "content": "", "flag": "-b" }, { "name": "--config filename", "content": "Load the configuration from given filename.\n", "long": "--config" }, { "name": "-x", "content": "%l with the load of the system, %m with \"New mail!\" when the current user has new\nmail, %u with the current effective user, %t timestamp of last changed file, %% with a\n%\n", "flag": "-x" }, { "name": "-o configfile-item", "content": "Proces a configurationfile item via the commandline in case you cannot edit the de‐\nfault configfile.\n\n--cont Reconnect lines with a '´ at the end.\n", "flag": "-o" }, { "name": "--mark-interval interval", "content": "When nothing comes in, print a '---mark---' line every 'interval' seconds.\n", "long": "--mark-interval" }, { "name": "--mark-change", "content": "When multiple files are merged an multitail switches between two windows, print a\nmarkerline with the filename.\n", "long": "--mark-change" }, { "name": "--no-mark-change", "content": "Do NOT print the markerline when the file changes (overrides the configfile).\n", "long": "--no-mark-change" }, { "name": "--label text", "content": "Put \"text\" in front of each line. Usefull when merging multiple files and/or commands.\n", "long": "--label" }, { "name": "--retry", "content": "Keep trying to open the following file if it is inaccessible.\n", "long": "--retry" }, { "name": "--retry-all", "content": "Like --retry but for all following files.\n", "long": "--retry-all" }, { "name": "-cv", "content": "" }, { "name": "--basename", "content": "Only display the filename (and not the path) in the statusline.\n", "long": "--basename" }, { "name": "-F file", "content": "Use 'file' as configfile (instead of default configfile).\n", "flag": "-F" }, { "name": "--no-load-global-config", "content": "Do NOT load the global configfile.\n", "long": "--no-load-global-config" }, { "name": "--beep-interval x", "content": "Let the terminal beep for every x-th line processed. Press 'i' in the main menu to see\nhow many times it beeped.\n\n--bi x Like '--beep-interval' but only for current (sub-)window. Statistics on the number of\nbeeps can be found in the statistics for this (sub-)window. Press 't' in the main\nmenu.\n", "long": "--beep-interval" }, { "name": "-H", "content": "", "flag": "-H" }, { "name": "-V", "content": "", "flag": "-V" } ] }, "KEYS": { "content": "You can press a couple of keys while the program runs. To see a list of them, press F1 (or\n^h). You can press F1 (or ^h) at any time: it gives you context related information. Press\n'q' to exit the program.\n\n", "subsections": [] }, "EXAMPLES": { "content": "See http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/examples.html for more and other examples.\n\nmultitail /var/log/apache/accesslog logfile -i -filestartingwithdatsh\nThis creates three windows. One with the contents of /var/log/apache/accesslog, one\nwith the contents of logfile and so on.\n", "subsections": [ { "name": "multitail -R 2 -l \"netstat -t\"", "content": "This runs netstat every 2 seconds and then shows what has changed since the previous\nrun. That way one can see new connections being made and closed connections fading\naway.\n" }, { "name": "multitail logfile -l \"ping 192.168.1.3\"", "content": "This creates two windows. One with the contents of logfile, one with with the output\nof 'ping 192.168.1.3'.\n\nmultitail /var/log/apache/accesslog -I /var/log/apache/errorlog\nThis creates one window with the contents of /var/log/apache/accesslog merged with\nthe contents of /var/log/apache/errorlog.\n\nmultitail -M 0 /var/log/apache/accesslog -I /var/log/apache/errorlog\nSame as previous example. This example will store all logged entries in a buffer so\nthat you can later on browse through them (by pressing ' b\n').\n\n" } ] }, "BUGS": { "content": "As this program grew larger and larger over the time with new functionality sometimes added\nad-hoc, some bugs may have been introduced. Please notify folkert@vanheusden.com if you find\nany.\n\nWell, except for the resizing of your terminal window. The program might crash when doing\nsuch things. Upgrading the ncurses library to at least version 5.3 might help in that case.\n\n", "subsections": [] }, "SEE ALSO": { "content": "", "subsections": [ { "name": "http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/", "content": "" } ] }, "NOTES": { "content": "This page describes MultiTail as found in the multitail-4.3.1 package; other versions may\ndiffer slightly. Mail corrections and additions to folkert@vanheusden.com. Report bugs in\nthe program to folkert@vanheusden.com.\n\n\n\nMultiTail 2007-02 MULTITAIL(1)", "subsections": [] } }, "summary": "MultiTail - browse through several files at once", "flags": [ { "flag": "-i", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Select a file to monitor. You can have multiple -i file parameters. You only need to add -i file in front of a filename if the filename starts with a dash ('-')." }, { "flag": "-I", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Same as -i file but add the output to the previous window (so the output is merged)." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "-Iw file interval Like '-i'/'-I' but expects the parameter to be a wildcard and the second(!) an interval. Initially MultiTail will start monitoring the first file with the most recent modification time. Every interval it will check if any new files were created (or modified) and start tailing that one. *Don't forget* to put quotation marks around the filename as otherwhise the shell will try to substitute them!" }, { "flag": "-l", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Command to execute in a window. Parameter is the command. Do not forget to use \"'s if the external command needs parameter! (e.g. -l \"ping host\")." }, { "flag": "-L", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Same as -l but add the output to the previous window (so the output is merged)." }, { "flag": "-j", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-j", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--mergeall", "arg": null, "description": "Merge all of the following files into the same window (see '--no-mergeall')." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--no-mergeall", "arg": null, "description": "Stop merging all files into one window (see '--mergeall');" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--no-repeat", "arg": null, "description": "When the same line is repeated, it will be suppressed while printing a \"Last message repeated x times\" message." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--mark-interval", "arg": null, "description": "Print every 'x' seconds a mark-line when nothing else was printed." }, { "flag": "-q", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Check path for new files with interval 'i', all in new windows. One can enter paths here understood by the shell. E.g. \"/tmp/*\". Note: do not forget to add quotes around the pathname to prevent the shell from parsing it!" }, { "flag": "-Q", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Like -q: but merge them all in one window." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--new-only", "arg": null, "description": "For -q/-Q: only create windows for files created after MultiTail was started." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--closeidle", "arg": null, "description": "Close windows when more then 'x' seconds no new data was processed." }, { "flag": "-a", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Note: you need to put \"-a file\" BEFORE to the file you're monitoring!" }, { "flag": "-A", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Also see the note for \"-a\"." }, { "flag": "-g", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-G", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-S", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-t", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "With this switch, \"title\" is displayed in the statusline instead of the filename or commandline." }, { "flag": "-n", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Number of lines to tail initially. The default depends on the size of the terminal- window." }, { "flag": "-N", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Like -n but this parameter will be used for all files/commands you tail after this pa‐ rameter." }, { "flag": "-r", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Restart the command (started with -l/-L) after it has exited. With interval you can set how long to sleep before restarting." }, { "flag": "-R", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Restarts a command like -r only this one shows the difference in output compared to the previous run." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Like -r / -R but clears the window before each iteration." }, { "flag": "-h", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-f", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--follow-all", "arg": null, "description": "For all files after this switch: follow the following filename, not the descriptor." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Use the predefined filter(s) from the configfile." }, { "flag": "-e", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "The command gets as commandline parameter the whole matching line." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "expression with '(' and ')'." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "matches inverted." }, { "flag": "-E", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-v", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-s", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Show the next given file using the colorscheme selected with 'scheme' (as defined in multitail.conf)." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Show all following files using the colorscheme selected with 'scheme' (as defined in multitail.conf)." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-c", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-C", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Show all following files in color depending on field selected with fieldindex. Fields are delimited by the defined delimiter." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Show the next file in color depending on field selected with fieldindex. Fields are delimited by the defined delimiter." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Use a specific color. Usefull when merging multiple outputs." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Interpret terminal codes. Only ANSI supported at this time." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-Z", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Specify the color-attributes for the markerline." }, { "flag": "-T", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-d", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-D", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-z", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-u", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-m", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Set buffersize Set nlines to 0 (zero) if you want no limits on the buffering." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-M", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Set the buffersize on ALL following files." }, { "flag": "-p", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Set linewrap: a = print everything including linewrap. l = just show everything start‐ ing at the left until the rightside of the window is reached. r = show everything starting from the right of the line. s = show everything starting with the process‐ name. S = show everything starting after the processname. o = show everything starting at offset 'y'." }, { "flag": "-P", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Like -p but for all following windows." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Strip parts of the input starting at offset x and ending (not including!) offset y." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Strip parts of the input: strip column 'y' with delimiter 'x'." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-w", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-b", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--config", "arg": null, "description": "Load the configuration from given filename." }, { "flag": "-x", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "%l with the load of the system, %m with \"New mail!\" when the current user has new mail, %u with the current effective user, %t timestamp of last changed file, %% with a %" }, { "flag": "-o", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Proces a configurationfile item via the commandline in case you cannot edit the de‐ fault configfile. --cont Reconnect lines with a '´ at the end." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--mark-interval", "arg": null, "description": "When nothing comes in, print a '---mark---' line every 'interval' seconds." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--mark-change", "arg": null, "description": "When multiple files are merged an multitail switches between two windows, print a markerline with the filename." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--no-mark-change", "arg": null, "description": "Do NOT print the markerline when the file changes (overrides the configfile)." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--label", "arg": null, "description": "Put \"text\" in front of each line. Usefull when merging multiple files and/or commands." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--retry", "arg": null, "description": "Keep trying to open the following file if it is inaccessible." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--retry-all", "arg": null, "description": "Like --retry but for all following files." }, { "flag": "", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--basename", "arg": null, "description": "Only display the filename (and not the path) in the statusline." }, { "flag": "-F", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "Use 'file' as configfile (instead of default configfile)." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--no-load-global-config", "arg": null, "description": "Do NOT load the global configfile." }, { "flag": "", "long": "--beep-interval", "arg": null, "description": "Let the terminal beep for every x-th line processed. Press 'i' in the main menu to see how many times it beeped. --bi x Like '--beep-interval' but only for current (sub-)window. Statistics on the number of beeps can be found in the statistics for this (sub-)window. Press 't' in the main menu." }, { "flag": "-H", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" }, { "flag": "-V", "long": null, "arg": null, "description": "" } ], "examples": [ "See http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/examples.html for more and other examples.", "multitail /var/log/apache/accesslog logfile -i -filestartingwithdatsh", "This creates three windows. One with the contents of /var/log/apache/accesslog, one", "with the contents of logfile and so on.", "This runs netstat every 2 seconds and then shows what has changed since the previous", "run. That way one can see new connections being made and closed connections fading", "away.", "This creates two windows. One with the contents of logfile, one with with the output", "of 'ping 192.168.1.3'.", "multitail /var/log/apache/accesslog -I /var/log/apache/errorlog", "This creates one window with the contents of /var/log/apache/accesslog merged with", "the contents of /var/log/apache/errorlog.", "multitail -M 0 /var/log/apache/accesslog -I /var/log/apache/errorlog", "Same as previous example. This example will store all logged entries in a buffer so", "that you can later on browse through them (by pressing ' b", "')." ], "see_also": [], "tldr": { "source": "official", "description": "Extension of tail.", "examples": [ { "description": "Tail all files matching a pattern in a single stream", "command": "multitail -Q 1 '{{pattern}}'" }, { "description": "Tail all files in a directory in a single stream", "command": "multitail -Q 1 '{{path/to/directory}}/*'" }, { "description": "Automatically add new files to a window", "command": "multitail -Q {{pattern}}" }, { "description": "Show 5 logfiles while merging 2 and put them in 2 columns with only one in the left column", "command": "multitail -s 2 -sn 1,3 {{path/to/mergefile}} -I {{path/to/file1}} {{path/to/file2}} {{path/to/file3}} {{path/to/file4}}" } ] } }