move directory command

[seanh]

Hi all,
Does anyone know how what move directory command I need to use:

I am in current directory tmp and I have a folder inside tmp name work I would like to get all contents(files, subfolders) from work to tmp. Can someone PLEASE HELP ME with this.
Thank you all in advance.

[micmast]

mv /tmp/yourfolder /new/location/

You can generally handle a folder just like you handle a file. For example deleting a directory is also with the rm command (with the argument -r because you need to delete recursivly (bad spelling I know)). Hope this helps

[seanh]

Thank you so much for your reply MicMast,

Could you help me out with two last question.

Im a little confuse. in your example mv /tmp/yourfolder /new/location/
do all the contents (everything files,subfolder s) inside of "yourfolder " move to inside of "location" or does the folder its self ("yourfolder ") with everything in it move inside of "location"?

My last question is what is recursively ? I come from a windows op. sorry to ask I looked and read in forums but don't really understand what it is.
Thank you so much for your time and patience Im just starting out with centos.

[micmast]

if you execute
mv /tmp/yourfolder/* /new/location/folder/
you will copy the content of the folder in tmp to the new location

if you execute
mv /tmp/yourfolder /new/location/folder/
you will copy the folder incl the folder itself to the new location

recursivly is a more complex item. The wikipedia explanation is " Recursion, in mathematics and computer science, is a method of defining functions in which the function being defined is applied within its own definition. The term is also used more generally to describe a process of repeating objects in a self-similar way. For instance, when the surfaces of two mirrors are almost parallel with each other the nested images that occur are a form of infinite recursion." But basicly it means that when you try to delete a folder, the command must be sure the folder is empty before deleting the folder.

[seanh]

Hi MicMast,
Now I understand!
Thank you so much for your time, patience and specially your help! I really appreciate it.
sean

[micmast]

no problem, I hope I can help you more in the future.

[drhowarddrfine]

Please note that we call these "directorie s" and not folders, which is a Windows term. Perhaps it's a desktop term, too, but not native to *nix itself.

[Frinavale]

Please note that we call these "directorie s" and not folders, which is a Windows term. Perhaps it's a desktop term, too, but not native to *nix itself.

Is "folder" really a Windows term?
I always refer to them as directories.

Edit: aha! it's not just a Windows term...this term was originally used by Apple Lisa and now "is used in almost all modern operating systems' desktop environments".

[drhowarddrfine]

Yes, Microsoft can't even do that on their own and has to copy it like they copy everything else.

I guess the term is appropriate in a desktop environment but incorrect anywhere else.

And, yes, I'm grumpy today.