Files and directories

copy, delete and move

Copy files or folders : cp

Copy: use cp followed by the path of the file you want to copy and the path to where you want to put the copy.

• cp file1 file2
  • Creates a copy of file1 and names it file2.
• cp -r folder1 folder2
  • If you want to copy a folder, you need to add the option -r (recursive, which means it will copy everything inside the folder).
• cp file1 folder1
  • Will create a copy of file1 in the folder1 (the copy will be named file1).
• cp -v -r folder1 folder2
  • Creates a copy of folder1 and names it folder2.
  • The option -v (verbose) will make the computer print to the screen what it is doing (copied folder1/file1 to folder2/file1; copied folder1/file2 to folder2/file2; etc).

Remove files or folders : rm

Remove: use rm followed by the path to a file or folder you wish to delete. It will delete FOREVER, there is no trashbin when you use rm, so use with care

• rm file1 file2 file3
  • Delete all files listed after the command
• rm -r folder1
  • Delete all files in the folder1 and the folder itself (will only work if you use -r)
• rm *
  • Deletes EVERYTHING (*) in the current folder, except folders (since -r was not included)
• rm -v *
  • Deletes everything in the current folder, except folders, and prints to the screen the files it deleted while doing it.

Create folders/directories: mkdir

make directory: use mkdir followed by the name you want to give to the new folder. You can create multiple folders at once by simply separating the names with a space

Delete an empty folder: rmdir

remove directory: Use with the path to a folder to delete it FOREVER (same as rm). Only works if the folder is empty.

It is what rm -r folder uses to remove the folder. - Once it removed all the files in the folder, it uses rmdir folder.