Appendix A - New User Background Information
User Guide
285
Basic File Manipulation Commands
The basic file manipulation commands allow the user to copy, delete, and move files and cre-
ate and delete directories.
Other commands allow the user to change directories and see the contents of a directory.
cp
file_name destination
a) cp text.txt /tmp
b) cp /chap/robo.php ./excess.php
Copies the file indicated by file_name to the path
indicated by destination. a) Copies the file text.txt
in the current directory to the tmp directory.
b) Copies the file robo.php in the chap directory to
the current directory and renames the copy
excess.php.
rm
file_name
Removes the file indicated by file_name.
mv
file_name destination
Moves the file indicated by file_name to the path
indicated by destination.
mkdir
directory_name
a) mkdir spot
b) mkdir /tmp/snuggles
Creates a directory named directory_name.
a) creates the directory spot in the current
directory. b) creates the directory snuggles in the
directory tmp.
rmdir
directory_name
Removes the directory indicated by
directory_name.
pwd
Supplies the name of the current directory. While logged in, the
user is always “in” a directory. The default initial directory is the
user's home directory: /home/<username>
ls [options]
directory_name
Lists the files and directories within directory_name. Some useful
options are -l for more detailed output and -a which shows hid-
den system files.
cd
directory_name
Changes the directory to the one specified.
cat
file_name
Prints the contents of file_name to the screen.
