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I am trying to move a file that starts with "-" with mv. Whenever I try to move it I get an error saying I have an invalid option because ...
  1. 06-12-2007 #1
    ibanex22
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    renaming a file starting with -

    I am trying to move a file that starts with "-" with mv. Whenever I try to move it I get an error saying I have an invalid option because the file starts with -. I have tried to put a \ before it with no luck and I have tried quotes. Thanks in advance!
    --Erik
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  2. 06-12-2007 #2
    bigtomrodney
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    There is an old GNU trick that if you want to specify the end of switches you can pass a double hypen '--' with no action after it -
    Code:
    mv -- -somefile somefile
    Escaping doesn't usually work, nor do quotes. Just use the double hyphen.
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  3. 06-12-2007 #3
    ibanex22
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    worked great, thanks!
    --Erik
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