(SOLVED) mv command with -i option not working properly?

[lfever]

In using the mv command with the option -i to rename a file (mv -i fileold filenew) the -i should cause me to be prompted before overwriting files. This is not happening, the file is renamed without any prompt. Probably something simple that I am overlooking but it has given me a headache trying to figure out what the problem is   Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong?

Thanks
lfever

[djohnston]

Your syntax is correct.

Code: [Select]

darrel@AMD64:  57 items 792Kb -> mv -i file1 file2
mv: overwrite `file2'?
Can you show an example of it not working?

[lfever]

Can you show an example of it not working?

Code: [Select]

[msswanson@linuxlover ~]$ mv -i file_rename file_rename_old
[msswanson@linuxlover ~]$

The file is renamed with no prompting!
I tried this on another distro and am getting the same results. 

Now I really have a headache! 

[Old-Polack]

Can you show an example of it not working?

Code: [Select]

[msswanson@linuxlover ~]$ mv -i file_rename file_rename_old
[msswanson@linuxlover ~]$

The file is renamed with no prompting!
I tried this on another distro and am getting the same results. 

Now I really have a headache! 

From man mv;

-i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

If there is nothing being overwritten, there will be no prompt.

[lfever]

From man mv;

-i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

If there is nothing being overwritten, there will be no prompt.

Isn't the file name being rewritten?

[gseaman]

I learned something new. This is how it works on my machine.

[galen@localhost ~]$ echo "dummy" > dummy.txt
[galen@localhost ~]$ mv -i dummy.txt dummy.txt.save

No prompt.

[galen@localhost ~]$ echo "dummy-new" > dummy.txt
[galen@localhost ~]$ mv -i dummy.txt dummy.txt.save
mv: overwrite `dummy.txt.save'? y
[galen@localhost ~]$

If dummy.txt.save doesn't exist, there is no prompt. The second time, it already exists, so there is a prompt.

I hope this is helpful.

Galen

[lfever]

If dummy.txt.save doesn't exist, there is no prompt. The second time, it already exists, so there is a prompt.

I hope this is helpful.

Galen

Thanks Galen,
Getting the same results here. So the prompt will only show when renaming a file to an already existing file so as not to inadvertently overwrite the file unless your sure you want to do so or at least warn you.