how can I extract multiple gzip files in directory and subdirectories?

Question

I have tried both gzip and gunzip commands but I get either

gunzip *.gz 
gzip: invalid option -- 'Y' 

gunzip -S-1800-01-01-000000-g01.h5.gz  
gzip: compressed data not read
 from a terminal. Use -f to force decompression. For help, type: gzip -h

If I try the -f option it takes a very long time to work on one single file and the command is not executed successfully. Am I missing something?

Does the directory contain .gz files whose names start with hyphens, such as -Y.something.gz? If so you may need to use the Gnu -- flag to ensure that they are treated as filenames rather than options i.e. gunzip -- *.gz — steeldriver, Nov 03 '15 at 13:29

score 52 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 22 '17 at 12:30

52

You can use below command.

Go to the directory where your .gz file is and run command:

for f in *.gz ; do gunzip -c "$f" > /home/$USER/"${f%.*}" ; done

It will extract all file with original name and store it to current user home directory(/home/username). You can change it to somewhere else.

EDIT :

gunzip *.gz

This command also will work. But, by default, it replaces original file.

edited Oct 22 '17 at 12:30

phenomenon

213

answered Nov 03 '15 at 12:50

pl_rock

11,297

Have you read what I wrote in my question? gunzip *.gz is not working for me. But the for loop works, I am puzzled. – Herman Toothrot Nov 03 '15 at 13:24
but it is working for me and others also why is showing invalid option -- 'Y' . i think either your file format is not ok or you missing some thing in command. – pl_rock Nov 03 '15 at 13:26
also see http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/56421/gunzip-all-gz-files-in-directory – pl_rock Nov 03 '15 at 13:27

Bilal · Answer 2 · 2015-11-03T14:35:46.797

14

Option # 1 : unzip multiple files using single quote (short version)

gunzip '*.gz'

Note that *.gz word is put in between two single quote, so that shell will not recognize it as a wild card character.

Option # 2 : unzip multiple files using shell for loop (long version)

for g in *.gz; do gunzip $g; done

The Source

EDIT :

I have just tried :

gunzip -dk *.gz

and it worked.

-d to decompress and k to keep original files.

edited Nov 03 '15 at 14:35

answered Nov 03 '15 at 12:58

Bilal

3,699

have you checked gunzip ‘*.gz’ this command . i am not able to run this command . it giving error . – pl_rock Nov 03 '15 at 13:08
use gunzip '*.gz' not gunzip ‘*.gz’ (' ' not `‘ ``) – Bilal Nov 03 '15 at 13:16
i am just copy pasting your command and it giving gzip: *.gz: No such file or directory new also not working . have u tried ? – pl_rock Nov 03 '15 at 13:19
It does not work gunzip '.gz' gzip: .gz: No such file or directory – Herman Toothrot Nov 03 '15 at 13:23
Sorry, i didn'ttry it ! i'm on WIndows Right now :( – Bilal Nov 03 '15 at 13:26

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 01 '19 at 07:17

6

Linux Users:

Use the following command for extracting minimum amount of .gz files in the current directory and its sub directories

gunzip *.gz

Use the following command for extracting any number of .gz files in the current directory and its sub directories

sudo find . -name "*.gz" | xargs gunzip

answered Mar 01 '19 at 07:17

kmsvignesh

61
1
1

how to understand "minimum amount of .gz files"? as "0 or 1"? – qdinar Jan 08 '21 at 13:14
Why are you using sudo? – Ted Brownlow May 25 '23 at 15:52

how can I extract multiple gzip files in directory and subdirectories?

3 Answers3

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