missing destination file operand when cp

Question

i tried to use the Linux alias:

rm='cp $* ~/dustbin; rm $*'

but it reported 'missing destination file operand after ~/dustbin' , why didn't cp recognize ~/dustbin as destination ?

Are you running this in a script or straight on the command line? — Lektonic, Nov 20 '15 at 14:02
i used it as an alias in my .profile and then i ran it on the command line. — yang frank, Nov 23 '15 at 03:23

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 20 '15 at 14:31

0

Do you use bash? man bash:

There  is no mechanism for using arguments in the replacement text.  If
arguments are needed, a shell function should be  used  (see  FUNCTIONS
below).

Use function, e.g.:

rm() { cp $* ~/dustbin; /bin/rm $*; }

answered Nov 20 '15 at 14:31

masm

126
6

thanks, it works. by the way, the alias rm='echo $*' does print out the arguments, why didn't cp receive the arguments ? – yang frank Nov 23 '15 at 03:59
$* of alias does not receive arguments and seems to disappear. So, alias rm='echo $*' is equal to alias rm=echo, and rm a b c is echo a b c. – masm Nov 23 '15 at 05:00

missing destination file operand when cp

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