[SOLVED] Can we shorten path while renaming files?

ddenial · 12-16-2016, 04:34 AM

Hi

Can we shorten the path while renaming or copying files in terminal?

For example, while in /, if I want to rename a file with very long path, is there a trick so I could avoid/shorten path in <target> argument.

Code:

mv /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/fileA.txt  /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/fileB.txt

I'm new to terminal and I do lot of house keeping job. Its very painful to type very long paths every time I do some file management.

I've heard Linux is very flexible and several tricks can be applied to achieve desired result. I'm hoping for at-least some direction on how to achieve it.

Thanks

Turbocapitalist · 12-16-2016, 05:02 AM

If you are using bash, zsh, or ksh, you can use tab-completion. So when you get to a unique part of the path, press tab and the rest of the unique part will get filled in. That saves on a lot of typing.

Code:

mv /etab/fotab/itab/sttab/ltab/fileA.txt  /etab/fotab/itab/sttab/ltab/fileB.txt

Another option, is if you are moving or renaming files inside the same directory, you can cd to that directory and work there.

Code:

cd /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/
mv fileA.txt fileB.txt

Jjanel · 12-16-2016, 05:27 AM

IF you've already typed/'tabbed' the path, mv long/path/file{A,B}.ext

(test by using echo in place of the mv; good for {,.bak} or ,- )
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questi...directory-path (note lmv fcn)

[UNrelated ?4guru: I wish I knew how to like: `ip {a,r}` &get: ip a;ip r

]

hazel · 12-16-2016, 05:50 AM

Export an environmental variable called PATH and store the path in that. Then just use $PATH/filename.

ddenial · 12-16-2016, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjanel

IF you've already typed/'tabbed' the path, mv long/path/file{A,B}.ext

(test by using echo in place of the mv; good for {,.bak} or ,- )
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questi...directory-path (note lmv fcn)

[UNrelated ?4guru: I wish I knew how to like: `ip {a,r}` &get: ip a;ip r

]

Super Cool!. This worked-out for me.

Code:

# mv /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/{fileA.txt,fileB.txt}

Thank you very much. You saved a lot keystrokes.

fatmac · 12-16-2016, 06:44 AM

Copy & paste in the terminal.

Highlight the part you want, move to where you want it, middle click.

grail · 12-16-2016, 06:48 AM

Generally only have to type in the parts that are different in the braces:

Code:

mv /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/file{A,B}.txt

MadeInGermany · 12-20-2016, 07:22 AM

If you want to temporarily change directory then you can use the pushd stack. Each popd returns from the last pushd.

Code:

pushd /etc/fonts/infinality/styles.conf.avail/linux/
mv fileA.txt fileB.txt
popd