cp -Rf :confused:

craig_panama · #1 16th July 2008, 01:53 AM

It keeps asking me permission to copy... how do I get it to turn off the interactive?

edit(1) I posted this about an hr ago and I see about 13 views.. no replies

What I'm doing with "cp" is trying to upgrade a directory with sub-directories and files. To me this seems a fairly common operation.

So it seems "cp" is not designed with this in mind.

Of course there are work arounds. I can rename the old folder and create a new folder with the same name then copy all the files into it. One small problem. There are a few scripts that the upgrade files I'm coping from don't have. So then I have to copy those back into the newly created folder from the renamed folder.

This is a bunch of "bs" that you'd think I wouldn't have to deal with in Linux.

I can also use the "mv" command. Again though it has it draw backs

If you've got a suggestion I'd like to hear it. Is there a linux command that I'm not aware of. That wouldn't surprise me. I'd liked to be surprised in this case!

all this upgrading has to be done at by root so I can't just use GNOME cut and paste

ahvi · #2 16th July 2008, 03:35 AM

This really belongs in either Software or General support. That's probably why you haven't had a response. These forums are fairly organized. This is also free support provided by the community. Please do not expect an answer right away, especially posting late at night. So give it a little while and post in the correct forums and most people will be more than happy to help you.

That said, I suggest that you read up on the root account and permissions and what makes these concepts such an integral part of the security of Linux.

Also, make sure you search the forums and don't forget the "man" command for reading the manual:

man cp

From your question, it looks like the "cp" command should be exactly what you're looking for. cp will copy all the files and folders from one place to another while respecting the folder structure as long as you are using the -R command.

cp -Rf [source] [destination]

Of course if you don't have the permissions, then you will need root access. The "su" command will give you this. If you are trying to attain root access from within a script, then you will need to use

su -c '[commands]'

So either only initiate the script from root, or use that command to call another script from within yours which will then get root access.

#3 16th July 2008, 03:40 AM

Moved to General Support

Wayne

marcrblevins · #4 16th July 2008, 03:47 AM

Look into rsync.

Code:

man rsync

A.Serbinski · #5 16th July 2008, 04:07 AM

rsync is a good idea.

This issue with cp crops up when you're trying to copy files as *root*. Its a safety feature to make sure you don't do anything stupid.

You can always try out the deprecated option "--reply=yes". It'll give a warning that its deprecated, but it should still work.

marko · #6 16th July 2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig_panama

It keeps asking me permission to copy... how do I get it to turn off the interactive?

edit(1) I posted this about an hr ago and I see about 13 views.. no replies

What I'm doing with "cp" is trying to upgrade a directory with sub-directories and files. To me this seems a fairly common operation.

So it seems "cp" is not designed with this in mind.

It could be your shell has an alias for "cp" so that it sees the "cp" command
as "cp -i" (or some longer alias mixture of options that includes i for interactive)

note that even if you use options typed right onto the command, the
previously aliased options get inherited on,

this would setup that alias

Code:

alias cp 'cp -i'

and would cause the shell to interpret this:

Code:

cp -Rf  [source] [destination]

as this:

Code:

cp -iRf  [source][destination]

How to resolve:

1) get rid of the alias just in that shell instance:

Code:

unalias cp

2) permanently, find the config file that does the alias cp 'cp -i'
and remove that line from the file

3) one-shot ignore the alias with \ as an escape:

Code:

\cp -Rf  [source][destination]

The fast way to see if this alias exists is just query for that
alias:

Code:

alias cp

marcrblevins · #7 16th July 2008, 04:34 AM

Gotta be kidding me?

Code:

[root@kiriyamablevins ~]# alias
alias cp='cp -i'
alias l.='ls -d .* --color=auto'
alias ll='ls -l --color=auto'
alias ls='ls --color=auto'
alias mv='mv -i'
alias rm='rm -i'
alias which='alias | /usr/bin/which --tty-only --read-alias --show-dot --show-tilde'
[root@kiriyamablevins ~]#

Oh darn, nice feature.