Oracle Linux: How To Remove Files With Non-ASCII Characters in File Names (Doc ID 3052538.1)

Last updated on OCTOBER 23, 2024

Applies to:

Goal

Some programs, as well as users, create files with non-ASCII characters in their names. In Linux, filenames that display symbols like ? or other unusual characters (e.g., ة) typically contain non-ASCII characters. The ? symbol is used by the terminal as a placeholder for characters it cannot interpret.

Deleting these files can be challenging because standard keyboards don't include those characters, and ? may represent multiple different characters, making it difficult to properly identify the file for deletion.

This document explains the method to delete such files.

Solution

My Oracle Support provides customers with access to over a million knowledge articles and a vibrant support community of peers and Oracle experts.