can i overwrite a directory

[ajm144k]

pretty new to linux, just wondering if there's a command to overwrite a directory.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

I am not getting it. What do you want to do exactly? Do want to change directory name, location or files in it?
I would suggest you check linuxcommand.org for basic commands.

[ajm144k]

im trying to copy an updated directory over and have it replace the current one...

and thanks for the link, im sure this site is going to come in handy!

[meton_magis]

There are some switches to `cp` that would be useful.

you can see all of the switches with
`man cp`

but there is a switch to recursively copy files in a directory
`cp -r from_directory to_location`

and to copy only files that have been updated.
`cp -ru from_directory to_location`

again, see the man page for a better look

[ajm144k]

im not sure why, but the cp command isnt working. i get no error, but it just doesn't overwrite the old directory.


little background...

im in Android, if that matters, and have busybox on here as well.

im attempting to copy a new, updated app folder onto the device. all i did was optipng the files from my app folder and im trying to replace the old ones with the updated optipng'd ones

[Cabhan]

So we have a directory and want to replace it with a new one?

I don't necessarily know of a single command to do this (particularly if cp -u isn't working), but it's fairly simple in two commands:

rm -R olddir/
cp -R newdir/ olddir/

The first command deletes a directory, and the second one copies the new directory to the old one.

[elija]

I would replace the first command with an mv - just in case