curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification in column 3

2 min read 07-10-2024

curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification in column 3

Unraveling the "curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification" Error

Have you ever encountered the frustrating "curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification" error while using curl? This error, often accompanied by a column number, typically indicates a problem with the way you're specifying a range of data to download using curl.

Let's break down this error, explore its common causes, and learn how to fix it.

Understanding the Problem

In essence, the curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification error arises when curl cannot understand the range you've provided for the download. This means your syntax or the format of the range itself is incorrect.

A Typical Scenario

Imagine you're trying to download a specific section of a large file, say a PDF document, using curl. You might use the following command:

curl -r 100-200 https://example.com/document.pdf > partial_document.pdf

In this scenario, you intend to download bytes 100 to 200 from the document.pdf file. However, if you receive the curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification error, it indicates that the range 100-200 is malformed or invalid.

Common Causes of the Error

Incorrect Range Syntax: The -r option expects a range in the format start-end, where both start and end are integers representing byte positions within the file. Common mistakes include:
- Missing hyphen: curl -r 100 200 ... (should be curl -r 100-200 ...)
- Invalid characters: curl -r 100-A200 ... (should only contain numbers)
- Reversed start and end: curl -r 200-100 ... (the starting byte must be less than the ending byte)
Invalid Range: Even with correct syntax, your range might be invalid if:
- Start is greater than end: curl -r 200-100 ...
- Range exceeds file size: curl -r 50000-100000 ... (when the file is smaller than 100,000 bytes)

Troubleshooting and Solutions

Verify Syntax: Double-check your -r argument. Make sure the start and end are integers separated by a hyphen and that there are no spaces.
Check File Size: If you're unsure of the file size, use curl -I to retrieve the Content-Length header, which indicates the total size of the file in bytes.
Start Simple: Try downloading a smaller range to rule out issues with the range itself. For example:
```
curl -r 0-100 https://example.com/document.pdf > partial_document.pdf
```
Consult Documentation: Refer to the curl documentation for a detailed explanation of the -r option and its syntax: https://curl.haxx.se/docs/manpage.html

Additional Tips

If you're downloading a file using a web server that doesn't support byte ranges, you'll likely encounter this error.
If you're using curl with a specific protocol, check its documentation for any protocol-specific range limitations.

By understanding the common causes of this error and applying the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can effectively handle the "curl: (3) [globbing] bad range specification" error and efficiently download specific portions of files using curl.