UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I use (cp new folder directory), but it just makes a new folder, i want to copy everything in a directory not the actual directory.

It would help to know what linux distribution you are using. In Ubuntu, one would need to open Accessories;Terminal and type sudo cp then highlight the contents of the folder you want to copy and drag them to inside the terminal. Quite quickly they will be added to the end of the sudo cp typed above, then drag and drop the folder that you want to copy the contents to into the terminal and press enter.

From your description, I'm guessing you need to add the "-a" parameter to cp (man cp, may need to be -dR or other). If not, can you give the command, a description of the directory structure and expected results?

Sure. I just tested the following command to move Untitled 1.odt and Untitled 2.odt from /home/zach/videos to /home/zach/downloads and it worked.

Code:

$ sudo cp '/home/zach/Videos/Untitled 1.odt' '/home/zach/Videos/Untitled 2.odt' '/home/zach/Downloads'

I got this command by typing

Code:

sudo cp

into the terminal. Then I dragged and dropped the two files Untitled 1.odt and Untitled 2.odt into the terminal. Next I dragged and dropped the downloads folder into the terminal and pressed enter. Then I entered my password and pressed enter.

Note: A typo which stumps me from time to time is that there must always be a space after sudo cp.

This is in Ubuntu though. I'm not sure what linux distribution you have.

Ok so i use a mac, basically same a linux and unix, so i want to copy every single folder in 1 directory, into the next without copying the entire directory. because the program cant find it if it has 2 directories.

5 folders- in directory called basic---i use cp command-- then it copies basic and everything in it not the 5 folders.

i need to move multiple files, in a directory, not 1, i want like a select all function.

use cp -r <source> <destination>