LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-14-2009, 09:05 AM   #1
bruceam
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta, Georiga
Distribution: Debian, Ubuntu
Posts: 88

Rep: Reputation: 17
Question Spaces in Filenames and/or Directories


I have built a NAS for my home LAN, and shared parts of it with the rest of my Family. They all run Windows machines, while I run Debian Lenny. When I attempt to access part of the directories where they are asking for assistance, I often encounter files and even directories with spaces in their names. When I attempt to CD into these directories, I receive the message that no such directory exists, because the command doesn't know that the portion of the command following the space is still part of the directory or file name.

Question:
How can I access files and directories from the command line when the names of these files and/or directories have spaces in them?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
 
Old 12-14-2009, 09:10 AM   #2
anon237
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,532

Rep: Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405Reputation: 2405
Hi,

By placing the dir and/or file between double quotes: "/dir with spaces/file with spaces".

Or by escaping the spaces: /dir\ with\ spaces/file\ with\ spaces

Hope this helps.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 12-14-2009, 09:20 AM   #3
cola
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,047

Rep: Reputation: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceam View Post
I have built a NAS for my home LAN, and shared parts of it with the rest of my Family. They all run Windows machines, while I run Debian Lenny. When I attempt to access part of the directories where they are asking for assistance, I often encounter files and even directories with spaces in their names. When I attempt to CD into these directories, I receive the message that no such directory exists, because the command doesn't know that the portion of the command following the space is still part of the directory or file name.

Question:
How can I access files and directories from the command line when the names of these files and/or directories have spaces in them?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Use tab key from keyboard.
Code:
cd dirword1\ dirword2\

Last edited by cola; 12-14-2009 at 09:21 AM.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 12-14-2009, 09:30 AM   #4
estabroo
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jun 2008
Distribution: debian, ubuntu, sidux
Posts: 1,127
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 124Reputation: 124
you need to \ escape the spaces

so something like cd To\ The\ Directory\ with\ Spaces

your shell should be able to tab complete for you so you don't need to manually add them all, just type enough for it to be unique and hit the tab key
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 12-14-2009, 10:00 AM   #5
bruceam
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta, Georiga
Distribution: Debian, Ubuntu
Posts: 88

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 17
Thank you for your input. I will try all of the suggestions that you have offered. This will save me a lot of problems.

Thanks Again for everything!


Quote:
Originally Posted by druuna View Post
Hi,

By placing the dir and/or file between double quotes: "/dir with spaces/file with spaces".

Or by escaping the spaces: /dir\ with\ spaces/file\ with\ spaces

Hope this helps.
 
Old 12-14-2009, 10:02 AM   #6
bruceam
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta, Georiga
Distribution: Debian, Ubuntu
Posts: 88

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 17
Thank you to everyone who has responded. The information you have provided is both important and timely.


Thank you again everyone!



Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceam View Post
I have built a NAS for my home LAN, and shared parts of it with the rest of my Family. They all run Windows machines, while I run Debian Lenny. When I attempt to access part of the directories where they are asking for assistance, I often encounter files and even directories with spaces in their names. When I attempt to CD into these directories, I receive the message that no such directory exists, because the command doesn't know that the portion of the command following the space is still part of the directory or file name.

Question:
How can I access files and directories from the command line when the names of these files and/or directories have spaces in them?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
spaces in filenames dotancohen Programming 12 02-17-2006 02:42 PM
filenames with spaces antony.booth Programming 5 11-01-2005 04:49 AM
ls and filenames with spaces rose_bud4201 Programming 10 07-01-2005 08:28 AM
Filenames with spaces and symbols... Thewyzewun Linux - Newbie 2 03-13-2004 10:59 AM
spaces in filenames ebone Linux - General 2 11-12-2001 11:56 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:03 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration