how do I Merge 2 directories

syssyphus · 01-21-2006, 01:52 AM

How would one elegantly merge 2 directory structures without clobbering files with duplicate names?

GrueMaster · 01-21-2006, 02:07 AM

Try "mv --reply=no <source> <destination>" (where <source> is one directory and <destination> is the other). The --reply=no option will tell mv not to override files. You'll end up with all but the duplicate files moved, which you can manage individually from there.

syssyphus · 01-21-2006, 02:15 AM

this shell script does the trick:

http://shellscripts.org/project/mvpartial

syssyphus · 01-21-2006, 02:34 AM

The mv command runs into issues with colliding filenames, but the shell script above seems to work fine.

GrueMaster · 01-21-2006, 02:47 AM

Hmm. Ok, try using tar. Example:

cd <source-dir>
tar -cf - .|(cd <dest>;tar -kxvf -)

I just tested this, and it worked on a limited scale. I also use this when I upgrade harddrives. Transfered 80G of mp3 & ogg files fairly quickly from an 80g to a 120g drive.

Your tar example will overwrite files BTW.