can not remove file

ust · 04-23-2012, 09:41 PM

When I use command rm to remove file , it pops the below error , can advise how can I remote the files ? thx

-bash: /bin/rm: Argument list too long

derekpock · 04-23-2012, 09:45 PM

Hey,

Basically what this is saying that that when you typed in rm to remove a file, you entered too broad of an area. You need to make the command more defined, for instance:

rm /home/user/documents/file.odt

instead

rm /home

chrism01 · 04-23-2012, 09:55 PM

It would be better to show the exact cmd you used, but derekpock is broadly correct.
Each cmd has a limit of how many params it can accept, you likely used a '*' in a dir with a lot(!) of files.
Try reducing the list by eg only files starting with 'a', then 'b' etc.
Really you need to look at the filenames and find a way of grouping them into shorter lists.

David the H. · 04-24-2012, 02:29 PM

For details on how to select files using globbing patterns, see here:

http://mywiki.wooledge.org/glob