xxd usage (change magic byte to JPEG)

I create a simple test file like this:

$ cat > test blah 

Now I run vi, and then :%!xxd to edit first bytes with FFD8 FF

00000000: ffd8 ffe0 0a blah. 

and the I run :%!xxd -r.

file gives me NOT jpeg:

$ file test test: Unicode text, UTF-8 text 

And if I manage to get hexdump:

$ xxd test 00000000: c3bf c398 c3bf c3a0 0a ......... 

What am I doing wrong with xxd? Thank you

1 Answer

When opening the file with vi, please make sure to say:

LC_ALL=C vi test 

then edit and save the file with the shown procedure.