File: gawk.info,  Node: Command-line directories,  Next: Input Summary,  Prev: Retrying Input,  Up: Reading Files

4.13 Directories on the Command Line
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According to the POSIX standard, files named on the 'awk' command line
must be text files; it is a fatal error if they are not.  Most versions
of 'awk' treat a directory on the command line as a fatal error.

   By default, 'gawk' produces a warning for a directory on the command
line, but otherwise ignores it.  This makes it easier to use shell
wildcards with your 'awk' program:

     $ gawk -f whizprog.awk *        Directories could kill this program

   If either of the '--posix' or '--traditional' options is given, then
'gawk' reverts to treating a directory on the command line as a fatal
error.

   *Note Extension Sample Readdir:: for a way to treat directories as
usable data from an 'awk' program.