UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi - I am new to the Unix environment and have encountered a problem I can't resolve. I inadvertently created a data file with a
period/dot at the end of the word 'dat', I.e. filename.dat. and can't remove it using the 'rm' command. In attempting to do so, I receive a message reading that the file is not found. This file is HUGE so I'd like to be able to remove it. Does anyone have any idea how I can remove the file? Thank you in advance for any information you provide.

Trish

Try quoting the file with single or double quotes so that the shell takes it literally

i.e.

rm "filename.dat."
or
rm 'filename.dat.'

Regards.

If somehow you have some non-printable characters mixed in the filename, you will have a hard time getting the right filename for rm. If you have the ability to get to the file with a GUI (GNOME, CDE, KDE, etc...) try to delete it from there. If not, use wildcards and hope for the best...

try:
rm -i filename.dat*

The -i flag prompts you before it removes the file. If that matches more than one file in that directory, be sure to type n! If you type y, you'll remove the file forever.

Anyone else have any safer ideas? I've done this before, and used the above method... as best as I can figure, I had some garbled output that created a file named results^H.tx^Hct. The ^H's didn't print in an 'ls'.

Tunnel down to the file from the GUI interface, while logged on as "root".

Delete the offending file and logout to your user account.

The file should be disapeared.

Joetech

go have some fun!