delete files with filename starting with special characters

[Davide Depaoli]

Hi,
I've forgot how to delete files with filename starting with special characters. In particular, starting with "-" char.
thanks in advance

regards Davide

[Alex Glennie]

ll -i (to find the inode number)

substitute the inode number in place of the # below; (be very careful with the syntax, it must be exactly correct)

find . -xdev -inum # -exec ll {} \;
find . -xdev -inum # -exec rm -i {} \;

[Printaporn_1]

Hi,

You can simply specify full path to file
for example
rm /tmp/-xxx

Thanks

[Thomas Kollig]

Hi!
Instead of "rm -abc" use "rm ./-abc".

Thomas

[Thierry Poels_1]

I you start deleting files with special characters by using wildcards I would really encourage you to use "rm -i". Play it safe!


I once saw an experienced sysadmin delete a file named "*" with "rm *". Well he succeeded, the file was gone ;)

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

If your promt is in vi mode
set -o vi
You can use the quote
rm "
then ESC
the cursor will move back a space
then =
to get a list of the files
You can then type the first letter
and ESC ESC to get the shell to
continue the file name.
This is real usefull for strange characters
at the end of the filename as well.

I recall once that some of these files with special characters don't show up on a quota?
Although I could be wrong about that.

Bill

[Thierry Poels_1]

hey, where is my reply ???
OK, second try :


When deleting files with special characters by using wildcards I would really encourage you to use "rm -i". Play is safe!

I one saw an experience sysadmin delete a file named "*" with "rm *". Well he succeeded, the file was gone ;)

regards,
Thierry.

[CHRIS_ANORUO]

Hello Davide,

Thierry is right, play it safe use "rm -i *". This will help you on delete the file using interactive mode of yes/no. You just have to be careful in using the command.

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Hi
How about deleting a file "-R*" in the / dir ?
People will try to catch you out so -i should become a habit.

Paula

[Mark Mitchell]

Before you delete anything. First rename the file with a mv command. Then delete the file specifically.

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

You can use a \ to remove the special meaning in between the " .. but yea do it the way the others suggest.

Later,
Bill

[Volker Borowski]

Hello,

never deal with wildcards in this case !
Use "ftp localhost" and delete by exactly
typing the name. ftp does not expand wildcards.

Volker

[Gregory Fruth]

If the special character is '-', then the simplest way to
refer to it is to use the "--" option, which most commands
support (see "man 3 getopt"). To delete a file called '-i',
you'd say "rm -- -i". The "--" option tells the command
that all subsequent arguments are filenames and not
options.

For other shell special characters like '*', '$', '!', ' ' (space),
etc., just enclose the filename in single quotes; the "--"
and "./" techniques won't work for that.

[Nick D'Angelo]

Davide,

Ciao, scuzzarmi di mia scriatura.

Begoigno di dari punti a le resposto che tutti di addatto.

Grazie,

Nickd
_____
Translation
Hello,

Pardon my Italian writing.

One should assign points or review replies that everyone posts to your question.

Thank you.

[Rob Smith]

Hi, first of all, not trying to mooch points but you can just use rm -- "file" Example rm -- -r. Secondly, a lot of people took the time to answer your query, don't you think it is fair that you assign them some points. Hope this helps.

Rob

[Peggy Fong]

Interesting, there was a similar thread on 4/20 by Wahl with answers on how to remove a file called -p where no points were assigned to anyone there either. Here's the thread:
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,1150,0xa78d0cb17a32d5118fef0090279cd0f9,00.html

Too bad people aren't assigning points...we're going to lose the value of this site.