Copy error - "X is a directory" - what's wrong?

[lindsey]

peter@xb-msi:~/Ubuntu One$ cp -p /home/peter/Ubuntu\ One/CHEM2021\ -\ 1pm\ Fri\ -\ 07\ Oct\ 2011/VIDEO0086.3gp /media/2080-3248/Ubuntu\ One/CHEM2021\ -\ 1pm\ Fri\ -\ 07\ Oct\ 2011/
cp: cannot create regular file `/media/2080-3248/Ubuntu One/CHEM2021 - 1pm Fri - 07 Oct 2011/': Is a directory

Yeah thanks a lot Linux, that's exactly what I want and you're objecting to it for some reason. I want to copy a file into that currently non-existent directory and I want you to create it if it doesn't already exist.

How do I make Linux do what I want?

[Roxoff]

By default, cp copies files, not directories. You need to tell it to do its thing recursively, like this:

$ cp -R /home/me/source_dir /home/someoneelse/target

As you're trying to preserve the permissions here, you might want to look at the '-a' option, which I use all the time when copying directories - it preserves the permissions and timestamps, and does the directory recursion too:

$ cp -a /home/me/source_dir /home/someoneelse/target

There's a description of the command's switches on its man page. Try:

$ man cp

[lindsey]

By default, cp copies files, not directories.

I don't understand - VIDEO86.3gp is a file, not a directory, isn't it?

[Roxoff]

You could be right - the long directory paths here make this hard to read. But on closer look, the command appears to be complaining about the target directory, not the source one. Did you let your shell complete the path names (by pressing the TAB key) as you entered it? That can reduce typos. You could also drop the trailing '/' character?

[lindsey]

Did you let your shell complete the path names (by pressing the TAB key) as you entered it?

I thinks so, yes.

That can reduce typos. You could also drop the trailing '/' character?

But I need to specify a new directory location. I also want to avoid specifying a new filename, so I have to clearly define the destination path with a trailing "/". I want the file to retain its original name.

[jayd512]

As I understand it, you first need to create the destination directory.

mkdir path_to_directory

Then you can cp your file over, retaining the original name.

AFAIK, cp doesn't support actually creating the target directory.

[lindsey]

As I understand it, you first need to create the destination directory.

mkdir path_to_directory

Then you can cp your file over, retaining the original name.

AFAIK, cp doesn't support actually creating the target directory.

Really, there is no switch to allow this? Seems pretty basic. I'm surprised cp doesn't support directory creation.

[jayd512]

I just ran through the man page... nothing there for directory creation.
Frustrating... I agree.

I recall running across a few scripts online that serve that function, but it's not actually a default function.