Thread: rmdir

  1. #1
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    rmdir

    How can I remove a non-empty directory in UNIX? Let's say i had a directory called "myFolder", I know that "rmdir myFolder" should do the trick but I get complaints that the directory still has contents in it. I know there has gotta be a way to do this (unless i have to manually erase 100 files from directory "myFolder" in order to remove "myFolder").

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Hamster without a wheel iain's Avatar
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    use rmdir with the -R switch, this will erase the directory and its contents. Note: if you are logged in as root (superuser) be careful with this command.
    Monday - what a way to spend a seventh of your life

  3. #3
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    rm -R will recursively delete the contents of the directories and the directories themselves.

    And you woudn't have to "manually" delete the files in a directory. rm * will delete all the files in the current directory.
    All generalizations are false

  4. #4
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    thanks guys for your help!

  5. #5
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    Actually, some problems again...

    say i have a directory called "test", and in this directory are 2 files called "test1" and "test2".

    Ok so i cd to "test" and try the <rm *> command.

    i get back something like this:

    $ rm *
    rm: remove test1 (yes/no)? y
    rm: remove test2 (yes/no)? y
    $

    it prompts me to remove each file!? so if there are a 100 i have to type 'y' 100 times??

    Than i tried the <rm -R>:

    i get something similar again:

    $ rm -R test
    rm: examine files in directory test (yes/no)? y
    rm: remove test/test1 (yes/no)? y
    rm: remove test/test2 (yes/no)? y
    rm: remove test: (yes/no)? y
    $

    again it prompts each file! Also a a note, I tried replying "no" to "examine files in directory test (yes/no)?", thinking that by answering "no" i would'nt be prompted about each file. But nothing gets deleted? By the way, this is not linux but SunOS-5.8 (still unix); i don't know if that has anything to do with it?

    i'm new to this stuff and appreciate the help!

  6. #6
    Blank
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    It's because you have some alias to rm as rm -i in your
    .bashrc or one of dotfiles. I genearly don't like
    this, some distros put the entry some don't I guess.

    rm -f should do it

  7. #7
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    Try unalias rm, if you're using Bash(I assume so)

    Typing 'a' at the prompt instead of y or n might do the trick, too.

    Also, you should remove the line from the ~/.bashrc file, too.
    All generalizations are false

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