Editing Solaris 10 Associate (section)

== Modifying Directory Contents ==

=== Copy Files & Directories ===

==== Copy Files ====

Use cp command to copy the contents of a file to another file.

Syntax:
* cp -option source_file target_file_or_directory

Common options:
* -i (prevents accidental overwrite of file or directory, prompts user when an overwrite might occur)
* -r (recursive, includes the contents of directory and all sub-directories when copying a directory)

Examples:

Copy file within a directory:

<code>cp source_file target_file</code>

Copy multiple files to a different directory (relative path example):

<code>cp source_file1 source_file2 target_directory</code>

==== Copy Directories ====

Use cp -r command & option to copy the contents of a directory recursively to another directory

Syntax:
* cp -options source_directory target_directory

Note:
* If target_directory does not exist one will be created with source_directory name.
* If target_directory exists a new sub-directory below target_directory will be created with source_directory name.

Copying multiple directories
 
Syntax:
* cp -options source_directory1 source_directory2 target_directory

=== Moving Files & Directories ===

The mv command moves & can rename files & directories within the directory hierarchy

Syntax:
* mv -option source_file_or_directory target_file_or_directory

Examples:

Rename file1 in same directory to file2:

<code>mv file1 file2</code>

Move file1 to another directory:

<code>mv file1 ../</code>

Move & rename file1 to file2 in another directory:

<code>mv file1 ../file2</code>

Move & rename directory1 to directory2 in same directory:

<code>mv directory1 directory2</code>

=== Creating Files & Directories ===

==== Creating Files ====

You can use touch command to create an empty file or a text editor program

Syntax:
* touch filename

==== Creating Directories ====

Use mkdir command to create directories

Syntax:
* mkdir directory_name
* mkdir -p directory_names (-p creates all the parent directories that do not exist)

=== Removing files & directories ===

Remove file using rm command.

Syntax:
* rm -option filename

rm options:
* -i (prompts before deleting each file)

Remove empty directories. If directories are not empty an error message will result.

Syntax:
* rmdir directories

Remove directories that are not empty

Syntax:
* rm -options directories

rm options:
* -i (prompts before deleting each file or directory)
* -r (recursive, includes all contents of directory and sub-directories)

=== Using Symbolic links ===

A symbolic link is a pointer that contains the path name to another file or directory. Use ln -s command to create a symbolic link file. The file name for the symbolic link appears in the directory in which it is created.

Syntax:
* ln -s source_file target_file

Where source_file variable refers to the file, either relative or absolute path, in which you create a symbolic link. The target_file variable refers to the name of symbolic link. If source file does not exist a symbolic link called target_file to a non-existing file is created.

You remove symbolic link files the same way you would any other file using rm command.