Re: [tlug] How to cope with strange filenames in bash?

[Scott Robbins <scottro@example.com>]

On Tue, Jul 03, 2007 at 09:28:42AM +0200, Michal Hajek wrote:
> 
> Hello, 
> 
> a simple question: 
> 
> how do I cope in bash with filenames containing "-" character (i.e.
> dash) ? 
> 
> In my case, I have downloaded this file:  
> -umai-Doremi--Kenichi-10--B36CAB67-.avi.part1.rar
> 
> What is so special about it? This:
> 

Depending upon the command, one or the other of these should work.

mv ./-umai-Doremi-blah-blah

With some other commands (though not mv) prefacing the command with
another - will work.  

touch - -stupidname
rm - -stupidname

The ./ seems to work in more circumstances.

(Of course, you have to be in the directory containing the file.)  

Actually, if you're in a directory above it, using tab completion might
work. 

mkdir test
touch test/-stupidname
mv test/- <hit tab key, it will complete -stupidname> bettername
ls test
bettername

>From the directory containing the rar file, say the directory's name is
rar


cd ../



-- 

Scott Robbins

PGP keyID EB3467D6
( 1B48 077D 66F6 9DB0 FDC2 A409 FA54 EB34 67D6 )
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys EB3467D6

Buffy: See, this is a school. And we have students and they check
out books and then they learn things.
Giles: I was beginning to suspect that was a myth.