Greetings, I recently stumbled across a strange problem using cp which I do not understand. Here is the scenario;
I desire to copy backup files in original format from one directory to another. The source directory is layered and comprised of several sub-directories based upon date; 01.01.01 = Jan 1, 2001 12.31.01 = Dec 31, 2001 Now, the intent is to not copy the directory structures but to mass all files for a single month into a single directory, /home/user/admin/tamp/ Easy enough? The original command I used was Cp -far /home/ftp/tmp/2001/01.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ All worked well for 01, 02, 03, 04, (Jan, Feb, Mar, & Apr). Once I entered 05.*.01, I received the error, "Argument list is too long". Actual command, Cp -fa /home/ftp/tmp/2001/05.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ Now understand, the command worked perfectly as; Cp -fa /home/ftp/tmp/2001/01.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ Cp -fa /home/ftp/tmp/2001/02.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ Cp -fa /home/ftp/tmp/2001/03.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ Cp -fa /home/ftp/tmp/2001/04.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ But once I changed the month to 05, it stopped and gave me the "Argument list is too long" error. I ask, what is the difference between 04 and 05 in length? I made /home/ftp/tmp/2001 as my current directory and adjusted the argument to; Cp -fa ./05.*.01/* /home/user/admin/tmp/ To shorten the argument list. No good, same error! If I remove the * from the argument, it copies the files and directories just fine with no errors. But this does not save time or effort, as I still have to mv the files into the parent directory once copied. Additionally, I am using Slackware Linux 8.1 with fileutils-4.1-i386 on a Compaq Proliant 1850R server. I find this to be strange and have no clue as to what to do to fix it. Gratefully Phil _______________________________________________ Bug-fileutils mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-fileutils
