UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

rm recognizes the following options:

           -f   Force each file or directory to be removed without prompting
                for confirmation, regardless of the permissions of the
                entry.  This option also suppresses diagnostic messages
                regarding nonexistent operands.

                This option does not suppress any diagnostic messages other
                than those regarding nonexistent operands.  To suppress all
                error message and interactive prompts, the -f option should
                be used while redirecting standard error output to
                /dev/null.

                This option ignores any previous occurrence of the -i
                option.

 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 1 -   HP-UX Release 11i: November 2000

 rm(1)                                                                 rm(1)

           -i   Write a prompt to standard error requesting confirmation
                before removing each entry.

    -f    Removes all files (whether write-protected or not)  in
           a  directory  without  prompting the user. In a write-
           protected directory, however, files are never  removed
           (whatever  their permissions are), but no messages are
           displayed. If the removal of a write-protected  direc-
           tory  is  attempted,  this option will not suppress an
           error message.

     -i    Interactive. With this option, rm prompts for  confir-
           mation  before removing any files. It overrides the -f
           option and remains in  effect  even  if  the  standard
           input is not a terminal.