how to delete a file whose file name is \

vjayraghavan · 04-27-2009, 05:26 AM

hi,
I am not able to delete a file whose name is \

Quote:

rm \

Please help me to delete this file

pwc101 · 04-27-2009, 05:29 AM

You've got a couple of options:

Code:

rm \\
rm '\'

should both do the trick.

LinuxPimp · 06-03-2009, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwc101

You've got a couple of options:

Code:

rm \\
rm '\'

should both do the trick.

How about with "-" in the name?

The forward slash does not seem to "cancel" the "-" function.

Thanks

l

pwc101 · 06-03-2009, 03:06 AM

If the file name has a - in the middle of the file, there's no need to escape (i.e. prefix with a \) the -, it's just an ordinary character, like a, or p.

For files which begin with a -, how to delete these is covered in the rm man page

Quote:

Originally Posted by man rm

To remove a file whose name starts with a `-', for example `-foo', use
one of these commands:

rm -- -foo

rm ./-foo

Suffice it to say, if you invoke rm with a --, anything after the -- is treated as a filename.

LinuxPimp · 06-03-2009, 03:25 AM

Thank you very much!

l

paul81 · 06-03-2009, 06:04 AM

If you're scared of throwing away the wrong files by using the 'rm' command, try using the -i flag. This will ask you for each file if you're sure you want to throw it away. In this way you can play around with the rm command and try using different flags without throwing away the wrong files.

$ rm -ri *
rm: remove directory `test'?

onebuck · 06-03-2009, 07:26 AM

Hi,

You can always use the 'man command' to get an idea of the command usage.

The 'man rm' does provide an example of the use.

I suggest that you also look at;

'Rute Tutorial & Exposition'
'Linux Documentation Project'
'LinuxSelfHelp'

These links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!