On Wednesday 26 January 2005 14:11, Jeremy C. Reed wrote: > No escape in that example. The . (dot) simply means current directory, so > copy X to the file named "-X" in the current directory. Why didn't it give me the 'invalid option' error? > Of the above mentioned only cp X ./-X worked. Why is that? Is that how the > escape character works; only with the period? I am confused! Or is it because if you give it an absolute location it writes it as-is? Let's experiment: [1] Interesting: It works for some but not others.Perhaps that is why there are multiple ways of doing it. Whatever. [1] plaything@1[experementation]$ ls andor answers jh pens stationary tape -X andor~ answers.0197 memo sample.txt supply.order X plaything@1[experementation]$ touch hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./&hey [1] 4027 cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file bash: hey: command not found [1]+ Exit 1 cp hey ./ plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./$hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./:hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./~hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./!hey bash: !hey: event not found plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./%hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./\hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey .//hey cp: `hey' and `.//hey' are the same file plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./#hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./^hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./}hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./{hey plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./>hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./ plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./"hey > plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./'hey > plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./?hey cp: copying multiple files, but last argument `./%hey' is not a directory Try `cp --help' for more information. plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./*hey cp: copying multiple files, but last argument `./%hey' is not a directory Try `cp --help' for more information. plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./|hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file bash: hey: command not found plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./;hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file bash: hey: command not found plaything@1[experementation]$ cp hey ./&hey cp: `hey' and `./hey' are the same file [1] 5210 bash: hey: command not found [1] Exit 1 cp hey ./ plaything@1[experementation]$ plaything@1[experementation]$ ls andor answers.0197 ~hey {hey %hey pens supply.order -X andor~ hey :hey }hey jh sample.txt tape answers ^hey ]hey #hey memo stationary X plaything@1[experementation]$ --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss