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From: dean@priest.cs.uidaho.edu (Dean Collins)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc
Subject: Text file busy
Summary: How do you look at a file when it's busy?
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.210334.5764@groucho>
Date: 27 Jun 91 21:03:34 GMT
Sender: @groucho
Reply-To: dean@priest.cs.uidaho.edu (Dean Collins)
Organization: University of Idaho
Lines: 27
Nntp-Posting-Host: priest.cs.uidaho.edu

SUMMARY:
This may be a FAQ, but how do you look at a file when it's busy?

SYSTEM: 
We have an Apollo Domain system running Domain/OS 10.3.
Our nodes include various 3500's, 2500's, and a DN10000.
We have both Berkley & System V Unix, as well as Aegis.
We're running X11R4.

PROBLEM:
I need to look at various files, such as the error file
for X11R4's xdm, but it always says "Text file busy".
I can't cat, vi, or tail the file.  Ex.:

$ cat xdm-errors
xdm-errors: Text file busy

What does this mean, and what's the solution?

Thanks in Advance!!!
Dean

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Dean Collins                    | "The last man on earth sat alone
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID |  in a room.  
collin861@snake.cs.uidaho.edu   |  There was a knock at the door..."
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