Why should I escape the semicolon with find?
I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write
find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {} /media/MP3Player/ ;
escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
find options
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
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I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write
find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {} /media/MP3Player/ ;
escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
find options
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
1
-exec command ;
– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20
add a comment |
I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write
find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {} /media/MP3Player/ ;
escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
find options
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write
find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {} /media/MP3Player/ ;
escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
find options
find options
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
edited Jan 5 at 12:41
Poor Standard
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
asked Jan 4 at 20:16
Poor StandardPoor Standard
133
133
1
-exec command ;
– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20
add a comment |
1
-exec command ;
– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20
1
1
-exec command ;– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20
-exec command ;– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20
add a comment |
1 Answer
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You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.
Also, the manual does state in relevant part:
-exec utility [argument ...] ;
[...]
The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.
n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
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You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.
Also, the manual does state in relevant part:
-exec utility [argument ...] ;
[...]
The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.
n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
add a comment |
You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.
Also, the manual does state in relevant part:
-exec utility [argument ...] ;
[...]
The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.
n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
add a comment |
You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.
Also, the manual does state in relevant part:
-exec utility [argument ...] ;
[...]
The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.
n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.
Also, the manual does state in relevant part:
-exec utility [argument ...] ;
[...]
The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.
n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
edited Jan 4 at 20:22
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
answered Jan 4 at 20:17
DopeGhotiDopeGhoti
45.3k55988
45.3k55988
add a comment |
add a comment |
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-exec command ;– Jeff Schaller
Jan 4 at 20:20