Help me into how to change directory into a non-alphanumeric named folder

jheengut · 04-22-2016, 05:57 AM

how to change directory into a non-alphanumeric typed folder

Code:

ls -a|cat -A
.$
..$
Services.xlsx$
System Volume Information$
M-BM- $

The last folder cannot be typed in using a keyboard.

Is there a way to change the folder name?

HMW · 04-22-2016, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jheengut

how to change directory into a non-alphanumeric typed folder

Code:

ls -a|cat -A
.$
..$
Services.xlsx$
System Volume Information$
M-BM- $

The last folder cannot be typed in using a keyboard.

Is there a way to change the folder name?

?

Do you mean the directory:
"M-BM- "

Why can't you type that? Use \ before a blank space. Like this:

Code:

cd M-BM-\

To rename it:

Code:

mv M-BM\ / foo

Or am I missing something?

Best regards,
HMW

rtmistler · 04-22-2016, 09:50 AM

Given that M-BM-<whatever> is unique from the other directory names, also use a wildcard:

Code:

mv M-BM-* <new-name>

Habitual · 04-22-2016, 10:04 AM

Since there are no "folders" in Linux. (They are all files.)
"Folders" is a graphical term for files...why not just deal with it graphically?

Doug G · 04-22-2016, 12:17 PM

mc from the command line can often deal with weird file/directory names that are difficult to type.

lazydog · 04-22-2016, 12:32 PM

Does

Code:

cd M-<tab>

not work?

rtmistler · 04-22-2016, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazydog

Does

Code:

cd M-<tab>

not work?

This is along the lines of my recommendation. That name appears to be unique, use the wildcard or TAB for completion and then change the name to something which is not a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habitual

Since there are no "folders" in Linux. (They are all files.)
"Folders" is a graphical term for files...why not just deal with graphically?

I also was thinking this too. Just in whatever form of file manager there is, right click, rename, ... boom, done

I guess it boils down to if there's something left out by the OP that we're missing here.

jamison20000e · 04-22-2016, 12:42 PM

Who may only have a CLI (like me 10% of the time:)
...quotes may help?

Code:

cd "M-BM- "

Have fun!

Habitual · 04-22-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtmistler

I guess it boils down to if there's something left out by the OP that we're missing here.

And there's always "more" to the story than some 20 some-odd word post.

System Volume Information$ is certainly a big "tell".

jheengut · 04-26-2016, 06:37 AM

Hi guys,

Sorry to be a bit late.

the output of ls gives just some folder name some are printable while one is not printable on the terminal .

But if I pipe the output of ls into cat -A, the non-printable characters' of the file name is output as

Code:

M-BM- $

This file name cannot be typed in using a normal keyboard and I forgot to get the hexadecimal number of the non-printable characters.

Still I managed to use nautilus in a ubuntu virtual machine to rename the folder.

The weird name arose due to a virus on a crappy windows shitty laptop. It managed to hide some files into a non-printable folder.
Even power shell was unable to print the filename.
Unfortunately, My slackbox was not with me at that particular place and time.

keefaz · 04-26-2016, 08:01 AM

You could manipulate directory file with inode number instead of name
find the inode number

Code:

ls -i

Then rename the directory using find

Code:

find . -maxdepth 1 -inum $inode_number -exec mv '{}' "new directory name" \;