Can `ls` be set to only list the first X files/directories?

I'm trying to make a command which only displays the first 30 files when the ls command is invoked. I found this method...

ls | head -30

... but it ends up spitting out the files in one long list, not formatted in a row or colored as per the .bash_profile. So, is there any way to simply limit the output?

Solution 1:

Until asteri clarified the question, I thought John1024 had the answer. Now it seems that the following will work without the --color option:

ls -d $(ls | head -30)

Unfortunately this is too simplistic and will fail if there are blanks in the file names. To take account of that you need the more elaborate:

ls -b | head -30 | xargs ls -d

In both cases the principle is the same: ls | head gets the first 30 files, one per line, which are then presented as an argument list to another ls command, which needs the -d option in case any of the files are directories.

Solution 2:

To get coloring:

ls -l --color=always | head -30

Normally, ls produces color only when the output is going directly to a terminal. This is generally a good thing. To override that, use --color=always

The above produces output with one file per line. If you want, space allowing, more files per line, then try:

ls -l | head -30 | column

The column utility formats its input into multiple columns. The use of color may, however, confuse it.