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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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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.
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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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.
1
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
edited 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
edited 2 hours ago
zx485
1,47131315
1,47131315
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
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 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
asked 3 hours ago
NodeNewbNodeNewb
111
111
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.
1
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
1
1
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
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 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
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 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
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 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
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 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
answered 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
answered 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
answered 2 hours ago
vidarlovidarlo
10.7k52852
10.7k52852
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
add a comment |
+1 but I would have added how-amaintains last access stamps or something like that :)
– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
+1 but I would have added how
-a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
+1 but I would have added how
-a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)– WinEunuuchs2Unix
9 mins ago
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
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 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
answered 27 mins ago
sh.alawnehsh.alawneh
11
11
New contributor
sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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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.
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 |
add a comment |
NodeNewb is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
NodeNewb is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
NodeNewb is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
NodeNewb is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
– Henrique
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago