Ubuntu – How to copy files via terminal

bashcommand line

I have read about copying files with terminal but these examples will help me a lot. So here is what I want to do:

Examples:

  1. I have a file in /home/levan/kdenlive untitelds.mpg and I want to copy this file to /media/sda3/SkyDrive and do not want to delete any thing in SkyDrive directory.

  2. I have a file in /media/sda3/SkyDrive untitelds.mpg and I want to copy this file to /home/levan/kdenlive and do not want to delete any thing in kdenlive directory

  3. I want to copy a folder from home directory to sda3 and do not want to delete any thing on sda3 directory and opposite

  4. I want to cut a folder/file and copy to other place without deleting files in that directory I cut it into.

Best Answer

1) By using -i for interactive you will be asked if you would like to replace the file:

cp -i /home/levan/kdenlive/untitelds.mpg /media/sda3/SkyDrive/

or you can use -b to create a backup of your file:

cp -b /home/levan/kdenlive/untitelds.mpg /media/sda3/SkyDrive


2) Same as the above:

cp (-i or -b) /media/sda3/SkyDrive/untitelds.mpg /home/levan/kdenlive


3) Use -R for recursive and -i for interactive:

cp -Ri ~/MyFolder /sda3/


4) This last one can be done via the mv command, move is like cutting:

mv -i ~/MyFile ~/OtherFolder/MyFile

if you want to move a directory, use:

mv -Ri ~/MyDirectory ~/OtherDirectory/
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