Pasting files in linux

Mastering the Art of Copying and Pasting Files in Linux: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn how to copy and paste files in Linux using commands like the cp command and wildcards. Discover best practices and avoid common issues with our expert guide.

• Using the cp command to copy files and directories
• Using wildcards to copy multiple files
• 18 Copy Paste Move and Rename Files in Linux
• Other useful commands for copying files
• Copying and pasting text in the terminal
• Best practices and common issues
• Other code examples for copying and pasting files in Linux
• Conclusion
• How do I copy and paste a file in Linux?
• How do you copy and paste data in Linux terminal?
• How do I copy and paste multiple files in Linux?
• How do I copy files to clipboard in Linux?

Are you new to working in a Linux environment? If so, it is essential to understand how to copy and paste files in Linux. copying and pasting files in Linux is a fundamental skill that can help you manage files and directories efficiently. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover several methods for copying and pasting files in Linux, including using the cp command, using wildcards to copy multiple files, using other useful commands, and copying and pasting text in the terminal. We will also discuss best practices and common issues related to copying and pasting files in Linux.

Using the cp command to copy files and directories

The cp command is the most common method for copying files and directories in linux terminal. This command is used to copy files and directories from one location to another. To use the cp command, you need to specify the source file or directory and the destination file or directory.

Here is the syntax for the cp command:

cp [options] source_file destination_file 

To copy a file using the cp command, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the file exists.
2. Type the following command:

cp source_file destination_file 

For example, to copy a file named “file1.txt” from the current directory to the directory “Documents,” type the following command:

If you want to copy a directory and all its contents, use the -r option. For example, to copy a directory named “dir1” from the current directory to the directory “Documents,” type the following command:

Using wildcards to copy multiple files

Wildcards can be used to copy multiple files with similar names or patterns. The * and ? characters can be used as wildcards in Linux terminal.

The * character matches any number of characters in a file name, while the ? character matches a single character. For example, to copy all files with the extension “.txt” from the current directory to the directory “Documents,” type the following command:

18 Copy Paste Move and Rename Files in Linux

how to manipulate files in the shell in linux by moving them, renaming them, making a copy of Duration: 3:47

Other useful commands for copying files

The mv command is used to move files, which is similar to cutting and pasting files. However, when you move a file, it is removed from its original location and placed in the new location. Here is the syntax for the mv command:

mv [options] source_file destination_file 

To move a file using the mv command, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the file exists.
2. Type the following command:

mv source_file destination_file 

For example, to move a file named “file1.txt” from the current directory to the directory “Documents,” type the following command:

The gcp command is another useful command for copying files in linux. This command is similar to the cp command but provides more features and options. The gcp command is not installed by default in most Linux distributions, but it can be installed using the package manager.

Copying and pasting text in the terminal

Copying and pasting text in the terminal is similar to copying and pasting files. To copy text in the terminal, highlight it and press Ctrl + Shift + C. To paste text in the terminal, use Ctrl + Shift + V.

Best practices and common issues

To avoid common issues related to copying and pasting files in Linux, follow these best practices:

• Create backups before copying or moving files.
• Double-check the file paths before executing the command.
• Use the correct permissions for the files and directories.

Common issues related to copying and pasting files in Linux include permission denied errors and file path errors. To avoid these issues, make sure that you have the necessary permissions to access the files and directories, and double-check the file paths before executing the command.

Other code examples for copying and pasting files in Linux

In Shell , for instance, how to copy file in ubuntu terminal code example

cp ~/Downloads/your-file.txt ~/Documents/

In Shell , linux copy code sample

# Linux - Bash# syntax: # cp [option(s)] # example-1 (fundamental - no options): cp "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.txt" "C:\Users\hosts.txt"# example-2 (fundamental - with options): cp -nR "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" "C:\Users"# + ------ + ------------------------------------------------------- + # | OPTION | DESCRIPTION | # + ------ + ------------------------------------------------------- + # | -a | archive files | # | -f | force copy by removing the destination file if needed | # | -i | interactive - ask before overwrite | # | -l | link files instead of copy | # | -L | follow symbolic links | # | -n | no file overwrite | # | -R | recursive copy (including hidden files) | # + ------ + ------------------------------------------------------- + 

In Shell , in particular, copy and paste file in linux shell

# use cp for copy pasting BOTH files and folders in linux shell cp source_file target_file cp source_dir target_dir

Conclusion

Copying and pasting files in Linux terminal is a fundamental skill that can help you manage files and directories efficiently. In this comprehensive guide, we covered several methods for copying and pasting files in Linux, including using the cp command, using wildcards to copy multiple files, using other useful commands, and copying and pasting text in the terminal. We also discussed best practices and common issues related to copying and pasting files in Linux. With this knowledge, you can confidently manage files and directories in a Linux environment.

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How to copy and paste a file?

I want copy and paste a file. The name of the file is mkoctfile.m .
The path of this file is: /usr/share/octave/3.2.4/m/miscellaneous/mkoctfile.m I want to paste it to the following path /usr/bin/mkoctfile-3.2.4 I have made the directory by using following commands: sudo su mkdir -p /usr/bin/mkoctfile-3.2.4 but I don’t know how to copy and paste mkoctfile.m in this path. Please tell me what command I have to use.

4 Answers 4

Use the cp command to copy a file, the syntax goes cp sourcefile destinationfile . Use the mv command to move the file, basically cut and paste it somewhere else.

The exact syntax you would use for your example is:

sudo cp /usr/bin/octave/3.2.4/m/miscellaneous/mkoctfile.m /usr/bin/mkoctfile-3.2.4 

For more information on the cp or mv commands you can run:

To @BKSurgeon, I would suggest to use the tab key to see the paths/directories available, or type ls to see them all at once printed.

I think it is better to use cp -a than just cp , if you want to have the same affect as when copy-pasting in desktop GUI.

You can cut, copy, and paste in CLI intuitively like the way you usually did in the GUI, like so:

• cd to the folder containing files you want to copy or cut.
• copy file1 file2 folder1 folder2 or cut file1 folder1
• close the current terminal.
• open another terminal.
• cd to the folder where you want to paste them.
• paste

To be able to do so, make sure you have installed xclip and realpath . Then, append these functions to the end of your ~/.bashrc file:

copy() < # if the number of arguments equals 0 if [ $# -eq 0 ] then # if there are no arguments, save the folder you are currently in to the clipboard pwd | xclip else # save the number of argument/path to `~/.numToCopy` file. echo $# >~/.numToCopy # save all paths to clipboard # https://stackoverflow.com/q/5265702/9157799#comment128297633_5265775 realpath -s "$@" | xclip fi # mark that you want to do a copy operation echo "copy" > ~/.copyOrCut > cut() < # use the previous function to save the paths to clipboard copy "$@" # but mark it as a cut operation echo "cut" >~/.copyOrCut > paste() < # for every path for ((i=1; i 

If you don't know what .bashrc file is and never modify it before, just open the file explorer, go to Home, press Ctrl+H (show hidden files), search for .bashrc and open it with a text editor like gedit.

By using the above script, you are overriding the default functionality of these commands:

If you use one of those commands default functionality, just modify the script function names accordingly. For example, use p instead of paste .

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