using the cp command in a program in os x

**peateargriffin** · 04-06-2006

ok i have this program, i want to have it so the user types in the path of a file, and then the programs copies that file to another specified location. i have this so far:

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 

int main() 
{ 
   char orig[50]; 
   char dest[50]; 
       
   printf("where is the file you would like to copy? start with desktop, with a \"/\" between each foler. \n"); 
   scanf("%s",&orig); 
   printf("where would you like this file to be copied to? use the same format \n"); 
   scanf("%s",&dest); 
    
   system("cp ~/%s ~/%s", orig, dest); 
    
   printf("DONE!"); 
    
   return(0); 
}

the problem is it comes up with an error that says "users/peter/%s isnt a directory"
how do i get it to recognize the string i have after it? or can i at all?

thanks

**SlyMaelstrom** · 04-06-2006

system doesn't take data specifiers in its argument. You have to strcat the whole thing together and send that to system().

Also, use [CODE] tags.

**peateargriffin** · 04-06-2006

i thought i did use code tages...oops...and i dont know what strcat is, so either you could explain it briefly? or i can wait
thanks

**SlyMaelstrom** · 04-06-2006

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>   // For string functions including strcat();

int main() {
   char str1[13] = "Hello ";
   char str2[7] = "World!";

   strcat(str1,str2);     // strcat(a,b) appends b to a.
   printf("%s", str1);

   return 0;
}

/* Output:
   Hello World! */

A bit more detail, for you. First off, system(), which by the way is actually in <stdlib.h>, is generally frowned upon. Secondly, scanf() isn't used for strings. Especially strings that may contain spaces. If the input was "C:/Documents And Settings/..." you'd end up with "C:/Documents". You should be using fgets() for strings.

**Dave_Sinkula** · 04-06-2006

Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>   // For string functions including strcat();

int main() {
   char str1[7] = "Hello ";
   char str2[7] = "World!";

   strcat(str1,str2);     // strcat(a,b) appends b to a.
   printf("%s", str1);

   return 0;
}

/* Output:
   Hello World! */

Hmm?

**peateargriffin** · 04-06-2006

how would i use that though?

**SlyMaelstrom** · 04-06-2006

Originally Posted by Dave_Sinkula

Hmm?

Whoops... good call. I'm a boob.

**peateargriffin** · 04-06-2006

ok im lost....

**Tonto** · 04-06-2006

Boobies.

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 

int main() 
{ 
   char orig[50]; 
   char dest[50];
   char stuff[100]; 
       
   printf("where is the file you would like to copy? start with desktop, with a \"/\" between each foler. \n"); 
   scanf("%s", orig); 
   printf("where would you like this file to be copied to? use the same format \n"); 
   scanf("%s", dest); 

   sprintf(stuff, "cp ~/%s ~/%s", orig, dest);

   system(stuff); 
   printf("DONE!"); 
    
   return(0); 
}

**Salem** · 04-07-2006

Also, ~ is interpreted by the shell, not the cp command.

Perform the substitution of ~ in the code itself - ideally passing to the cp command two absolute paths.

**peateargriffin** · 04-07-2006

woah thanks everyone that helped. i cant try that now, but i will when i get home (school, always getting in the way)
quick question, i asked this question at the ipodlinux forums, and they said the command was snprintf(blah blah) not sprintf(blah blah), which is it?

**Salem** · 04-07-2006

Well snprintf() is preferable if you have it, but it is a C99 standard function. It is not a C89 function.

It's safer, but you lose some portability (basically)

**peateargriffin** · 04-07-2006

thanks you guys it worked, i wouldnt have been able to figure that out. thanks a bunch, ill be back!

thanks

**Apocalypse** · 04-07-2006

Originally Posted by Dave_Sinkula

Hmm?

No, he was correct before. str1 should be a size of 13 to allow Hello World!\0. Read the manual for strcat, char *s MUST be large enough to hold what it is being appended.

**peateargriffin** · 04-07-2006

question, can you have more than one getchar in a program? cause everytime i have more than one getchar, with an if/else following, the if's and else's get ignored.
here's teh code:

Code:

/*
 *  copy.c
 *  
 *
 *  Created by Peter Noone on 4/6/06.
 *  Copyright 2006 __MyCompanyName__. All rights reserved.
 *
 */

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
	char q;
	char a;
	char original[50];
	char orig[50];
	char file[10];
	char dest[50];
	char cp[100];
		
	printf("where is the file you would like to copy? \nif the file is on the desktop, type \"y\" \nif not, type \"n\" \n");
	q=getchar();
	if(q=='y')
	{
		printf("now type the file name.\n");
		scanf("%s", &file);
		sprintf(original,"~/desktop");
		sprintf(orig,"desktop/%s",file);
	}
	
	else
	{	
		printf(" type the full path of the file, start with \"/desktop,\" with a \"/\" \n between each foler. \n");
		scanf("%s",&orig);
	}
	
	if(q=='y')
	{
		printf("would you like the copy made to the same location? (y/n)\n");
		a=getchar();
		if(a=='y')
		{
			sprintf(dest,original);
		}
	}
	else
	{
		printf("where would you like this file to be copied to?\n");
		printf("type the full path of the destination. \n");
		scanf("%s",dest);
	}
	
	sprintf(cp,"cp ~/%s ~/%s", orig, dest);
	
	system(cp);
	
	printf("DONE!");
	
	return(0);
}

and here's what i get when i run it (it only works if i chose a file that was on the desktop. i.e. if i chose "y" at the first option)

Code:

new-host-2:/users/peter/desktop/other/programming Peter$ ./copy
where is the file you would like to copy? 
if the file is on the desktop, type "y" 
if not, type "n" 
y
now type the file name.
5g.scpt
would you like the copy made to the same location? (y/n)
cp: /Users/Peter/??.?: Invalid argument
DONE!

thanks

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