iconv Linux Command Guide

The Linux iconv command is a useful tool for converting the character encoding of one or multiple files. It can handle a wide range of encoding schemes and is essential for ensuring proper communication between different systems and programs. The iconv command is versatile and can be used to convert text files between various encodings such as ASCII, UTF-8, and more. It is efficient for batch processing files and can be integrated into scripts for automation. Overall, the iconv command is a valuable tool for managing text encoding in a Linux environment.

iconv Syntax:

iconv [options] -f from_encoding -t to_encoding inputfile(s) -o outputfile(s)

Options:

Option	Description
-f encoding	Specify the input encoding
-t encoding	Specify the output encoding
-o file	Write output to a file
-c	Omit invalid characters
-s	Suppress warnings
-l, —list	List available encodings
-h, —help	Display help message
-v, —version	Display version information

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
inputfile(s)	The file(s) to convert encoding
outputfile(s)	The file(s) to save converted output

Caution

Take caution when using the iconv command as incorrect usage may lead to data corruption or loss. Always ensure you specify the correct input and output encodings to prevent unexpected results.

iconv Command Samples:

Convert a text file from UTF-8 to ASCII encoding

iconv -f UTF-8 -t ASCII input.txt > output.txt

Converts a text file named input.txt from UTF-8 encoding to ASCII encoding and saves the output to a new file called output.txt.

Convert a file from ISO-8859-1 to UTF-8 encoding

iconv -f ISO-8859-1 -t UTF-8 input.txt > output.txt

Converts a file named input.txt from ISO-8859-1 encoding to UTF-8 encoding and stores the output in a new file named output.txt.

Display a list of available character sets

iconv -l

Displays a list of available character sets that can be used with the iconv command.

Convert a text file to uppercase

iconv -t ASCII//TRANSLIT -c -s -f UTF-8 input.txt | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]'

Converts the text in a file named input.txt from UTF-8 encoding to ASCII encoding in uppercase letters.

Convert a CSV file from UTF-8 to ISO-8859-1 encoding

iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO-8859-1 input.csv > output.csv

Converts a CSV file named input.csv from UTF-8 encoding to ISO-8859-1 encoding and saves the output to a new file called output.csv.

Ignore errors and convert a file from UTF-8 to ASCII encoding

iconv -c -f UTF-8 -t ASCII input.txt > output.txt 2>/dev/null

Converts a file named input.txt from UTF-8 encoding to ASCII encoding, ignoring any characters that cannot be converted, and saves the result to output.txt.

Convert a file from UTF-8 to Shift-JIS encoding

iconv -f UTF-8 -t SHIFT-JIS input.txt > output.txt

Converts a file named input.txt from UTF-8 encoding to Shift-JIS encoding and saves the result in a new file named output.txt.

Tip

When using the iconv command in Linux, make sure to carefully specify the input and output encodings to avoid data loss or corruption. Additionally, always test the command on a small sample of data before applying it to a large dataset.

iconv FAQ:

How do I use iconv in Linux?

To use the iconv command in Linux, execute the following command:

iconv --option <value>

What is the purpose of the iconv command in Linux?

The iconv command in Linux is used to convert the character encoding of a file from one specified encoding to another.

How can I list all available encodings for iconv in Linux?

To list all available encodings for iconv in Linux, you can use the —list option as shown below:

iconv --list

How do I convert a file from UTF-8 to ASCII using iconv in Linux?

To convert a file from UTF-8 to ASCII using iconv in Linux, you can use the following command:

iconv -f UTF-8 -t ASCII input.txt > output.txt

Can iconv overwrite the original file during conversion in Linux?

Yes, iconv can overwrite the original file during conversion in Linux. To do this, you need to use the -o option followed by the same filename as the input file:

iconv -f UTF-8 -t ASCII input.txt -o input.txt

How can I ignore conversion errors when using iconv in Linux?

To ignore conversion errors when using iconv in Linux, you can use the -c or —cvs option. This will replace characters that cannot be converted with a suitable replacement character:

iconv -f UTF-8 -t ASCII -c input.txt > output.txt

Applications of the iconv command

• Convert text from one character encoding to another
• Modify or fix text encoding issues
• Transform text files to be in a compatible encoding for a specific application