cp directory command

mark001 · 09-18-2004, 09:42 PM

I tried to copy /home/user/abcd/ to /home/user/efgh/ using the cp comand, but received the message cp: omitting directory '/home/user/agcd/'. I tried several times with and without the back slash but still got the same message.

could anyone point out what is wrong with the command?

my distro is redhat 8

Thanks.

leonscape · 09-18-2004, 09:50 PM

try with -r option i.e.

cp -r /home/user/abcd/ /home/user/efgh/

cp copies files, -r tells copy to go recursivley to get all the files.

mark001 · 09-18-2004, 11:07 PM

I type:-

cp -r /home/user/abcd/ /home/user/efgh/

IT WORKED.

Thanks leonscape.

excellent forum for newbies.

Kristijan · 09-18-2004, 11:12 PM

Just to point out mark001, it's always good to take a read over the manual pages.

So, using the above example;

Code:

man cp

Scroll down, and read through each switch and see if it does what you're looking for. So in the cp man page, you would have come across;

Code:

-R, -r, --recursive
              copy directories recursively

It just might be helpfull in the future for other commands.

Welcome to LQ.org

-Kristijan

akudewan · 09-19-2004, 12:50 AM

Okie, after six months of using linux, I never figured out how to copy directories from the terminal. I guess when I am told to RTFM, I really must RTFM.

Or I can just browse linuxforum

mirradric · 09-19-2004, 01:00 AM

The man pages contains lots of information about the commands and some even provide examples. You can learn a lot by going through them. Most questions are easily answer if you just look at the man page.

BTW some of the file managers/web browsers like Konquerer can handle man pages. just type

Code:

man:/cp

in the address bar of konquerer to view the man page of cp. man:/ gives you an index.
There's xman as well. Good for leisure browsing of the man pages...

Gosh, I must be way too bored...