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Copy files recursively

 
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# 1  
Old 08-02-2014
Copy files recursively
Hello!
I know what i s recursion, but can't imagine what shoudl be "recursicve copying" of files?

Please, what should mean:
cp -r /home/hope/files/* /home/hope/backup

Can someone helpme with a simple example?
Many thanks!!!
# 2  
Old 08-02-2014
It copies all the files (and directories, which themselves are special files) matching * in /home/hope/files, recursively, to /home/hope/backup

Code:
$ find /home/hope/files
/home/hope/files
/home/hope/files/.d
/home/hope/files/a
/home/hope/files/b/.b1
/home/hope/files/b/b2
/home/hope/files/b/b3
/home/hope/files/c

$ cp -r /home/hope/files/* /home/hope/backup
$ find /home/hope/backup
/home/hope/backup
/home/hope/backup/a
/home/hope/backup/b/b2
/home/hope/backup/b/b3
/home/hope/backup/c

This User Gave Thanks to Scott For This Post:
pinklemon
# 3  
Old 08-02-2014
unix
Aha!
So, files containing .b and .d would be copied too, if it was .* instead of *
Many thanks!!!

What means the word "recursively" exactly here? To be cpied to "themselves" (same file content, same name, I supoose?)
Many thanks!!!
# 4  
Old 08-02-2014
It has nothing to do with the filenames, only the process by which they're copied: Copy everything matching *. If * is a directory, go into it and repeat "copy everything matching [b]*[/b/]". .b, for example, would not be copied because it is not matched by *

Recursive - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This User Gave Thanks to Scott For This Post:
pinklemon
# 5  
Old 08-02-2014
Hello!
Many thanks!!!
Please, what exactly would:
Code:
$ cp  /home/hope/files/* /home/hope/backup

do then?
# 6  
Old 08-02-2014
It is missing the -r recursive option. What, then, would you expect? The man pages (e.g. man cp) are an inexhaustible reservoir of information on unix commands (and more).
This User Gave Thanks to RudiC For This Post:
pinklemon
# 7  
Old 08-02-2014
It would copy all files (excluding directories, but including the target of symbolic links and other special files) matching * from /home/hope/files to /home/hope/backup.

Please install a Linux, Unix or Cygwin or the likes onto your computer and practice, instead of continually asking these types of questions.
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pinklemon
 
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