ctags

Generate tags files (POSIX)

Syntax:

ctags options files...

Options:

-a

Append to the tags file, instead of overwriting it.

-B

Use ?regexp? instead of /regexp/.

-Dword

Ignore word. This is handy for parameter macro names.

-e

Include extern tags.

-F

Use /regexp/ (the default).

-h

Add hints to help elvis distinguish between overloaded tags.

-i

Include inline definitions.

-l

("el") Add a ln line number hint (implies -h).

-N

Use line numbers instead of /regexp/.

-p

Write parsing information to stdout (for debugging ctags).

-r

Write a refs file, in addition to tags.

-s

Include static tags.

-t

Include typedefs.

-v

Include variable declarations.

-x

Write a cross-reference table to stdout instead of to the tags file.

files

The pathnames of the files that are to be scanned for tags.

Description:

The ctags utility generates a file called tags from a group of C source files.

Each C source file is scanned for #define statements and function definitions. The name of the macro or function becomes the name of a tag. For each tag, a line is added to the tags file, which contains:

• the name of the tag
• a tab character
• the name of the file containing the tag
• a tab character
• a way to find the particular line within the file

If you don't specify any options, ctags uses -l -i -s -t -v.

The elvis, less, more, and vi utilities can use entries in the tags file to locate and display a definition.

Examples:

Generate tags for all the C source and header files in the current directory:

ctags *.[ch]

Author:

Steve Kirkendall; ctags is part of the elvis suite. Report bugs to kirkenda@cs.pdx.edu.

See also:

elvis, less, more, vi