bash cp filenames with spaces

Question

I'm using variables in bash script to hold folder names (to iterate over multiple folders). I'd like to copy files from one to another, the files exist in source directory. Folders and filenames contain spaces, so I must use double quote.

For instance:

#!/bin/bash
inpath="~/foo bar/"
outpath="~/temp basket/
cp "$inpath*" "$outpath"

The copy fails as: '~/foo bar/*' No such file or directory

Is there any consistent way to do that?

Because `~` looses its special meaning if quoted. – AlexP Oct 25 '18 at 22:13 — AlexP, Oct 25 '18 at 22:13

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 25 '18 at 22:11

2

Only quote the parts you don't want expanded or split:

inpath=~/'foo bar'
outpath=~/'temp basket'
cp -- "$inpath/"* "$outpath"

answered Oct 25 '18 at 22:11

melpomene

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Thanks a lot, indeed it worked! – Marek Kucharski Oct 25 '18 at 22:46

bash cp filenames with spaces

1 Answers1