[SOLVED] Copy command difficulties.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 09:47 AM

Hi All,

I'm coping some files from my home directory to some other location, but it won't copy hidden files.

I used following command to copy,

Quote:

cp *.* pvt/

can anyone tell me why its not coping hidden files ?

Thanks for your help,

Regards,

273 · 04-06-2015, 09:55 AM

I'll admit I find the copying of hidden files in bulk a little confusing myself so I'll post a link:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...nother-387107/
Because what I wanted to post is that "*.*" is a DOS thing and unless that's exactly what you want to do -- copying all files which have some characters, then a dot, then some characters, you shouldn't use it under Linux. With Linux there are often no "file extensions" so when wanting to copy everything it's simply:

Code:

cp * /the/destination/

Though, as discussed in the thread I linked to, that doesn't copy files beginning with a dot either.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 10:28 AM

Still have some problem to copy my .bash_history, .bashrc,.bashrc.bak,.lesshst,.profile,.profile.belvedere,.ssh files to new directory.

273 · 04-06-2015, 10:35 AM

Check the link I posted to an earlier question. There are a few solutions given. I'd probably go with the simple approach given in post #11.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 11:11 AM

Here, does * means all files in a directy including hidden files ??

but they can not take all files, why ??
does I need to use another command instead of cp.

273 · 04-06-2015, 11:13 AM

No, just using * won't copy hidden files, just how it's designed I suppose.
What exactly are you trying to do though? A graphical file manager would allow you to copy anything you want, for example. Or something like rsync can be used to synchronise files. Or, you could just copy your full home directory to somewhere else if that's all you want to de.
As I mentioned check out the thread I linked to for other ideas.

T3RM1NVT0R · 04-06-2015, 11:46 AM

For copying all files from your home directory to another location you can use:

Code:

cp -arv /home/your_home_directory/. /destination

You can try using -arv with * not sure whether it will result in what you are looking for.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 12:43 PM

stil not what I'm looking for ... :-(

T3RM1NVT0R · 04-06-2015, 12:45 PM

Give us an example of what exactly you are trying to do, let me see if I can replicate that and give it a try.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 12:57 PM

I have my profile with lot of hidden files such as .bash_history, .bashrc,.bashrc.bak,.lesshst,.profile,.profile.belvedere,.ssh, and I want to copy all files from my profile(including hidden) to directory like /pvt.

should i go with rsync or cp will do this ?

T3RM1NVT0R · 04-06-2015, 01:03 PM

If that is the case then cp should work. I have got many hidden files in my profile as well and I have copied my entire home directory to /tmp and it copied hidden files as well. I used the same command as I mentioned in my previous post:

Code:

cp -arv /home/your_home_directory/. /destination

Make sure you are putting a dot (.) as I mentioned in the source. If it does not work then you have to explain the requirement in more detail because on the basis of what you said it works perfectly fine for me.

You can use rsync but I don't see anything wrong with cp.

273 · 04-06-2015, 01:07 PM

By the way, I made mention of rsync because I have no idea what the full requirement here is. rsync works well for keeping things synchronised, the clue in the name, but for a one off copy I'd probably not use it.

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 01:16 PM

Quote:

cp -arv /home/your_home_directory/. /destination

it works with absolute path.

I tried without absolute path, so it does not copy hidden files.

It works

Thanks :-)

T3RM1NVT0R · 04-06-2015, 01:20 PM

You're welcome.

Please mark the thread as solved!

Enjoy Linux!!!

rockstar05 · 04-06-2015, 01:22 PM

Done Thanks .. ..