Removing Backup(~) files in fc4

coolguy_iiit · 07-30-2006, 10:52 AM

Hi,
I am using Fc4.Whenever i edit a file a backup file is created with name filename~.For example if i edit named.conf a file named.conf~ is also created.how to remove this backup by default?

Thanks
coolguy

pixellany · 07-30-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolguy_iiit

.how to remove this backup by default?
coolguy

DON'T!!--This is a feature of *nix systems that will save your life one day. It is not that difficult to periodically go into a directory and type: rm *~

If you insist, at least some editors--Gedit, for example--will allow you to turn off this feature. HOW might take some digging.

I don't think there is any system-wide way of doing it---i.e. it depends on the editor.

jonaskoelker · 07-30-2006, 11:20 AM

This deletes backups older than a month:

Code:

find -name '*~' -atime 30 | xargs --delim='\n' rm

put it in your crontab (or, if you're daring, root's crontab). You may also wish to just say "find -name '*~' -atime 30" (without the xargs bit) to recieve a mail naming all the files (and then deleting them yourself).

hth --Jonas

Lenard · 07-30-2006, 11:22 AM

Some text editors create a backup file as a safety feature which some (OK many) consider this to be a good thing. Some save the backup file directly to the media, some do not. Your choice of text editor makes a difference, for example try using nedit instead of whatever editor you are currently using.

FYI: some backup files are [re]created by default (even if you have deleted them) at boottime and this is a good thing.

coolguy_iiit · 07-30-2006, 11:48 AM

Instead of creating the backup as filename~ i want them to be created as hidden files.for ex: .filename~ becuase it really becomes difficult when you use tab completion.please let me know how to change the backup filename format.

ioerror · 07-30-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolguy_iiit

becuase it really becomes difficult when you use tab completion

That's because you're not using zsh, which can be configured to ignore backup files when completing.

You might be able to configure bash to do this too, though if so, I've no idea how (try searching for 'programmable completion' in the man page).

pixellany · 07-30-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolguy_iiit

Instead of creating the backup as filename~ i want them to be created as hidden files.for ex: .filename~ becuase it really becomes difficult when you use tab completion.please let me know how to change the backup filename format.

I think the advice so far is that this is a function of the editor. Gedit does not have this feature (AFAIK). What editor are you using? Have you looked at its preferences to see if it will do what you want?

coolguy_iiit · 07-30-2006, 09:24 PM

I am using vim editor.Tell me how to configure vim to remove backup files or atleast change the format of backup files.

gilead · 07-30-2006, 11:43 PM

You can put set nobackup in your ~/.vimrc file, but a better solution is to just delete the backups periodically as has already been suggested. If you set vim to no backups, you should have something else doing backups for you (running out of cron so you don't have to remember it).

pixellany · 07-30-2006, 11:45 PM

Here's the VIM manual. After a quick scan, I cant see anything on file saving options.

http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/