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-1

I desire to copy all files inside a directory which has only these files (all are regular files - there are no directories, symlinks, etc, inside that directory) to another pre-existing directory.

The files have pretty common names like robots.txt and don't follow any specific pattern.

I tried a similar command:

cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b 

I understand that -a is a shortcut-combo for -d (preserving mode, ownership and timestamps) and -R which orders recursive copying;

If copying is recursive, why the files aren't copied and what would be a solution?

_{In practice there are only 5 files so I could execute similar to cp "$HOME"/a/{file1,file2,file3,file4,file5,...} "$HOME"/b but if all files is more than it will probably be not efficient.}

directory cp recursive gnu

share|improve this question

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is $HOME/b a pre-existing directory? Did you look inside it?
  
  – Kusalananda♦
  2 days ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes, it is indeed. Edited.
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The paragraph “In practice there…cp file1 ... "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b…” is wrong.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @ctrl-alt-delor hello, what's wrong please?
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  it is not equivalent: try it.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

-1

I desire to copy all files inside a directory which has only these files (all are regular files - there are no directories, symlinks, etc, inside that directory) to another pre-existing directory.

The files have pretty common names like robots.txt and don't follow any specific pattern.

I tried a similar command:

cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b 

I understand that -a is a shortcut-combo for -d (preserving mode, ownership and timestamps) and -R which orders recursive copying;

If copying is recursive, why the files aren't copied and what would be a solution?

_{In practice there are only 5 files so I could execute similar to cp "$HOME"/a/{file1,file2,file3,file4,file5,...} "$HOME"/b but if all files is more than it will probably be not efficient.}

directory cp recursive gnu

share|improve this question

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is $HOME/b a pre-existing directory? Did you look inside it?
  
  – Kusalananda♦
  2 days ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes, it is indeed. Edited.
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The paragraph “In practice there…cp file1 ... "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b…” is wrong.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @ctrl-alt-delor hello, what's wrong please?
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  it is not equivalent: try it.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

I desire to copy all files inside a directory which has only these files (all are regular files - there are no directories, symlinks, etc, inside that directory) to another pre-existing directory.

The files have pretty common names like robots.txt and don't follow any specific pattern.

I tried a similar command:

cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b 

I understand that -a is a shortcut-combo for -d (preserving mode, ownership and timestamps) and -R which orders recursive copying;

If copying is recursive, why the files aren't copied and what would be a solution?

_{In practice there are only 5 files so I could execute similar to cp "$HOME"/a/{file1,file2,file3,file4,file5,...} "$HOME"/b but if all files is more than it will probably be not efficient.}

directory cp recursive gnu

share|improve this question

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b 

share|improve this question

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

edited 15 hours ago

ctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

7211 gold badge1111 silver badges4848 bronze badges

asked 2 days ago

JohnDoeaJohnDoea

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2

Scenarios:

1. 
   

   Directory a exists but b doesn't`:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the entire directory a to a new directory b

   
   


2. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the directory a inside directory b. So you'll get a "$HOME"/b/a directory as a result.

   
   


3. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a/* "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the contents of a inside directory b but exclude hidden files and directories. While some shells have some options to include them, here the best approach would be:

   
   
   

   cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/
   
   

   
   

This is what I understand you want.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Note that the very last command would not copy hidden files. This may not be an issue in this particular case, but it may well be an issue in the general case. To solve that, enable globbing of hidden files (in bash: shopt -s dotglob, in zsh: setopt GLOB_DOTS).
  
  – Kusalananda♦
  2 days ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Change the star for a dot in the last command and it'll copy everything in a for you. See this answer for the explanation.
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So much time passed since I last used shell globs - I forgot I have to use them here... A trouble of being a shell scripting amateur.
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Kusalananda, in zsh, you'd rather use cp -a "$HOME"/a/*(D) "$HOME"/b to include hidden files rather than change a global setting. But cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/ would be best.
  
  – Stéphane Chazelas
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

cp safety tips:

copying a directory

Directories a and b exist:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will copy the directory a inside directory b

Directory a exists but b doesn't:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will generate a friendly error message

copying a file

Directory b exists

cp -T a b

will generate a friendly error message

Directory b does not exist

cp -T a b
will copy the file, to b

---

Note not all versions of cp/mv/ln have the -t or -T options, but all allow the / to ensure that the b is a directory. If they don't have these options, then there is no way to guarantee that b is not an existing directory.

share|improve this answer

edited 12 hours ago

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not all implementations of cp have the -T option. Furthermore, some implementations require /. instead of just /. For example cp -a a/. b rather than cp -a a/ b. (And all implementations handle it, so there's no harm including the trailing dot on the source directory.)
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have already added a note about -T not being in all implementations.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes... but on that same note, just / on its own also doesn't work everywhere, but /. (with that trailing dot) does.
  
  – roaima
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @roaima can you edit the answer.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2

Scenarios:

1. 
   

   Directory a exists but b doesn't`:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the entire directory a to a new directory b

   
   


2. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the directory a inside directory b. So you'll get a "$HOME"/b/a directory as a result.

   
   


3. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a/* "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the contents of a inside directory b but exclude hidden files and directories. While some shells have some options to include them, here the best approach would be:

   
   
   

   cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/
   
   

   
   

This is what I understand you want.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Note that the very last command would not copy hidden files. This may not be an issue in this particular case, but it may well be an issue in the general case. To solve that, enable globbing of hidden files (in bash: shopt -s dotglob, in zsh: setopt GLOB_DOTS).
  
  – Kusalananda♦
  2 days ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Change the star for a dot in the last command and it'll copy everything in a for you. See this answer for the explanation.
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So much time passed since I last used shell globs - I forgot I have to use them here... A trouble of being a shell scripting amateur.
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Kusalananda, in zsh, you'd rather use cp -a "$HOME"/a/*(D) "$HOME"/b to include hidden files rather than change a global setting. But cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/ would be best.
  
  – Stéphane Chazelas
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

Scenarios:

1. 
   

   Directory a exists but b doesn't`:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the entire directory a to a new directory b

   
   


2. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the directory a inside directory b. So you'll get a "$HOME"/b/a directory as a result.

   
   


3. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a/* "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the contents of a inside directory b but exclude hidden files and directories. While some shells have some options to include them, here the best approach would be:

   
   
   

   cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/
   
   

   
   

This is what I understand you want.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Note that the very last command would not copy hidden files. This may not be an issue in this particular case, but it may well be an issue in the general case. To solve that, enable globbing of hidden files (in bash: shopt -s dotglob, in zsh: setopt GLOB_DOTS).
  
  – Kusalananda♦
  2 days ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Change the star for a dot in the last command and it'll copy everything in a for you. See this answer for the explanation.
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So much time passed since I last used shell globs - I forgot I have to use them here... A trouble of being a shell scripting amateur.
  
  – JohnDoea
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Kusalananda, in zsh, you'd rather use cp -a "$HOME"/a/*(D) "$HOME"/b to include hidden files rather than change a global setting. But cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/ would be best.
  
  – Stéphane Chazelas
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Scenarios:

1. 
   

   Directory a exists but b doesn't`:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the entire directory a to a new directory b

   
   


2. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the directory a inside directory b. So you'll get a "$HOME"/b/a directory as a result.

   
   


3. 
   

   Directories a and b exist:

   
   
   

   cp -a "$HOME"/a/* "$HOME"/b
   
   

   
   
   

   will copy the contents of a inside directory b but exclude hidden files and directories. While some shells have some options to include them, here the best approach would be:

   
   
   

   cp -a ~/a/. ~/b/
   
   

   
   

This is what I understand you want.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

edited 11 hours ago

Stéphane Chazelas

331k5858 gold badges644644 silver badges10131013 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

answered 2 days ago

guillermo chamorroguillermo chamorro

4471212 bronze badges

0

cp safety tips:

copying a directory

Directories a and b exist:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will copy the directory a inside directory b

Directory a exists but b doesn't:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will generate a friendly error message

copying a file

Directory b exists

cp -T a b

will generate a friendly error message

Directory b does not exist

cp -T a b
will copy the file, to b

---

Note not all versions of cp/mv/ln have the -t or -T options, but all allow the / to ensure that the b is a directory. If they don't have these options, then there is no way to guarantee that b is not an existing directory.

share|improve this answer

edited 12 hours ago

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not all implementations of cp have the -T option. Furthermore, some implementations require /. instead of just /. For example cp -a a/. b rather than cp -a a/ b. (And all implementations handle it, so there's no harm including the trailing dot on the source directory.)
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have already added a note about -T not being in all implementations.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes... but on that same note, just / on its own also doesn't work everywhere, but /. (with that trailing dot) does.
  
  – roaima
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @roaima can you edit the answer.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

cp safety tips:

copying a directory

Directories a and b exist:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will copy the directory a inside directory b

Directory a exists but b doesn't:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will generate a friendly error message

copying a file

Directory b exists

cp -T a b

will generate a friendly error message

Directory b does not exist

cp -T a b
will copy the file, to b

---

Note not all versions of cp/mv/ln have the -t or -T options, but all allow the / to ensure that the b is a directory. If they don't have these options, then there is no way to guarantee that b is not an existing directory.

share|improve this answer

edited 12 hours ago

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not all implementations of cp have the -T option. Furthermore, some implementations require /. instead of just /. For example cp -a a/. b rather than cp -a a/ b. (And all implementations handle it, so there's no harm including the trailing dot on the source directory.)
  
  – roaima
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have already added a note about -T not being in all implementations.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes... but on that same note, just / on its own also doesn't work everywhere, but /. (with that trailing dot) does.
  
  – roaima
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @roaima can you edit the answer.
  
  – ctrl-alt-delor
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

cp safety tips:

copying a directory

Directories a and b exist:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will copy the directory a inside directory b

Directory a exists but b doesn't:

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

will generate a friendly error message

copying a file

Directory b exists

cp -T a b

will generate a friendly error message

Directory b does not exist

cp -T a b
will copy the file, to b

---

Note not all versions of cp/mv/ln have the -t or -T options, but all allow the / to ensure that the b is a directory. If they don't have these options, then there is no way to guarantee that b is not an existing directory.

share|improve this answer

edited 12 hours ago

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

cp -a a b/

cp -a -t b a

cp -T a b

share|improve this answer

edited 12 hours ago

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

14.2k55 gold badges3333 silver badges6464 bronze badges

answered yesterday

ctrl-alt-delorctrl-alt-delor

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