How does cp -a work
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I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as
cp -a ../somedir/.
It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?
I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.
files copy
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
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NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as
cp -a ../somedir/.
It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?
I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.
files copy
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42
add a comment |
I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as
cp -a ../somedir/.
It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?
I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.
files copy
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as
cp -a ../somedir/.
It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?
I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.
files copy
files copy
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
edited Apr 15 at 20:35
zx485
1,48631315
1,48631315
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
asked Apr 15 at 19:57
NodeNewbNodeNewb
182
182
New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42
add a comment |
2
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42
2
2
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is
cp source target
You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run
cp ../somedir .
Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
add a comment |
You can say:
cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content
Or you can say
cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.
the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is
cp source target
You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run
cp ../somedir .
Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
add a comment |
cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is
cp source target
You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run
cp ../somedir .
Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
add a comment |
cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is
cp source target
You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run
cp ../somedir .
Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is
cp source target
You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run
cp ../somedir .
Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
answered Apr 15 at 20:08
vidarlovidarlo
10.9k52852
10.9k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
add a comment |
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
+1 but I would have added how
-a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
+1 but I would have added how
-a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)– WinEunuuchs2Unix
Apr 15 at 22:55
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
-a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.
– mckenzm
Apr 16 at 1:52
add a comment |
You can say:
cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content
Or you can say
cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.
the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
You can say:
cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content
Or you can say
cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.
the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
You can say:
cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content
Or you can say
cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.
the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You can say:
cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content
Or you can say
cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.
the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
answered Apr 15 at 22:37
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
1011
1011
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
Apr 15 at 20:29
Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
– rm-vanda
Apr 15 at 20:42