Data lost while coping files
 

Hi,

A directory /test/test1 is created & under /test1 there are some files & subdirectories with data in it. I had copied the files (text & script files) with command as,

cp -irv /test/test1/.* /test as per the requirement but what i see in destinarion i.e, /test that no files or directory has been copied in /test & the files/directories is also removed from source i.e, /test/test1

so my query is how can i get the files/directories back with data ?

Any responce will be appreciated
Thanks

I am not sure you did what you think you did. A directory /test will be located at the root of the filesystem, that is, it will be at the same level as /root and /usr and /home and so forth. Is this what you intended? I think perhaps you have a directory test with subdirectory test/test1 (note no leading forward slash), which perhaps is in your home directory. That would be: /home/yourusername/test/test1. Is this correct?

Also, you specified your destination alternately as /test and /test1. Again I doubt this is right, and I can't tell what the typo is.

The copy command you specified will be verbose (the v option). What did it say to you when you executed it? Also, the syntax would be cp -irv /test/test1/* /test, using the paths you specified. Note no period.

You have some simple path issue. What you did won't delete any files. You aren't looking where you think you are looking.

You have copied files with a . in front of the name. In Linux these are hidden files. To see them you have to use the -a option with ls.

D'uh. Yes. That is what you did.

Thanks but still I am unable to see the files, I am able to see . & .. but not the actual files & directories.

Thanks

Well, you copied only hidden files.
When there were no hidden files in /test/test1, there won't be any in /test.

The correct command would be:

cp -irv /test/test1/* /test

without the dot before the asterisk

Thanks to all..