renaming extensions

christina_rules · 05-20-2006, 03:12 AM

i am very new in linux and hoping that i am able to get help here...can i know when we can't rename extensions by simply typing mv *.cpp *.c?

Zmyrgel · 05-20-2006, 03:17 AM

Not sure but I think you need to be more specific with that renaming. like "mv baa.cpp baa.c". I'm myself not that familiar with linux. Also, check file permissions.

spooon · 05-20-2006, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christina_rules

i am very new in linux and hoping that i am able to get help here...can i know when we can't rename extensions by simply typing mv *.cpp *.c?

No. "mv" moves a bunch of files to one destination, so if you tried to do that it would try to move all the *.cpp and all but the last of the *.c files into the last .c file, which is not what you want (and does not work). Try something like

Code:

rename .cpp .c *.cpp

christina_rules · 05-23-2006, 03:11 AM

thank you for solving the problem.
but if you don't mind can you explain how the code works? like why there are 3 arguments?

Quote:

but the last of the *.c files into the last .c file, which is not what you want (and does not work).

and what does this mean?

spooon · 05-23-2006, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christina_rules

but if you don't mind can you explain how the code works? like why there are 3 arguments?

read "man rename"

Quote:

Originally Posted by christina_rules

and what does this mean?

So "mv" works like this: suppose you do "mv A B C D E F", it tries to move the 5 things (A B C D E) into the directory F. When you do "mv *.cpp *.c", the shell expands the wildcards, so it becomes something like "mv A.cpp B.cpp C.cpp D.c E.c F.c" for example. Then it tries to move the 5 things (A.cpp B.cpp C.cpp D.c E.c) into the directory "F.c". Which is not what you wanted.

christina_rules · 05-23-2006, 08:58 AM

thank you so much...i understand it clearly now..i appreciate it

christina_rules · 05-23-2006, 09:04 AM

thank you so much...i understand it clearly now..i appreciate it