Copy files from different directories

fiomba · 02-10-2005, 06:17 PM

The normal

Code:

 cp -r Starting_dir  Ending_dir

replicates in the ending dir the directory tree of starting dir.

Instead, I want to copy (for example) all the python files (ending with *.py), scattered all over my home (in different subdirs) into a unique directory, by means of a command like this:

Code:

 cpx  ~/*.py  collecting_dir

What is the bash command (if any)?

secesh · 02-10-2005, 06:25 PM

cp ~/*.py /some/destination/

you can still use -R for recursive...

jschiwal · 02-10-2005, 06:52 PM

You could try
find ~ -name "*.py" -exec cp "{}" <destination-dir>/ \;

In a script, the variable $HOME is usually used instead of '~'.

As I understand your question, you want all of the scripts copied into the same target directory, without any of the subdirectories copied as well.

fiomba · 02-11-2005, 03:01 AM

Hi ,
thank for your replies.
jschiwal is correct . I have found the same indications (after posting ... RTM !) in the O'Reilly's "Unix Power Tools" about the use of find + -exec command (pag. 291 of the 2nd Edition).
About the secesh's reply, I think that he wanted correct my "cpx"...
I only used cpx has a placeholder of something else:
the command with cp does not work as I am looking for.