How to force overwrite non-empty directories using `mv`

Question

I am wanting to move (not just copy) a group of files/directories to a different directory some of which have name clashes with files/directories in the target directory. My main objective is to move the files, so I can tolerate the non-empty directory being overwritten.

I am currently using mv ... destination however, occasionally I get

mv: cannot move `target' to /destination/target': Directory not empty

I tried mv -f ... destination with no success and since I want the files to be gone from their original location, rsync doesn't seem to be appropriate.

As a bonus, is there a good solution for preserving the files intended to be overwritten somehow maybe by renaming?

You explicitly say that rsync is not what you want; why did you tag this with rsync? — DopeGhoti, Jan 04 '14 at 10:12
@DopeGhoti I said it doesn't seem appropriate, but I am willing to be shown otherwise. — user1227038, Jan 04 '14 at 10:42
if you use use mv --backup=numbered or one of the other options for the --backup switch, then mv will complete the merge and preserve the files intended to be overwritten — bsd, Jan 04 '14 at 11:11
@bdowning this solves all my problems if you want to post it as the answer! — user1227038, Jan 04 '14 at 11:18

score 22 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 22 '16 at 03:21

22

If you use mv --backup=numbered
(or one of the other options for the --backup switch),
then mv will complete the merge and preserve the files intended to be overwritten.

edited Feb 22 '16 at 03:21

felipsmartins

103

answered Jan 04 '14 at 11:22

bsd

11,036

1

dumb answer - this will pollute your drive with .~1~ folders – Toolkit Oct 07 '19 at 09:17
1

Worked for me: mv --backup=t <source> <destination>. Thanks! – Henke - Нава́льный П с м Dec 10 '20 at 17:02
Oh god, why did i listen to this advice, now i've got numbered directories everywhere. God damnit. I used the backup=t option. DO NOT USE THIS, THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER. – Owl May 21 '23 at 07:44

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 04 '14 at 10:07

0

#!/bin/bash
SAVEIFS=$IFS
IFS=$(echo -en "\n\b")
SRC=/path/to/source
DST=/path/to/destination

for item in $SRC/*; do
    if [[ -f "$DST/$(basename "$item")" ]]; then
        newitem=$(basename $item)_old
        while [[ -f "$DST/$newitem" ]]; do
            newitem=${newitem}_old
        done
        mv "$DST/$(basename $item)" "$DST/$newitem"
    fi
    mv "$item" "$DST/$(basename $item)"
done

answered Jan 04 '14 at 10:07

DopeGhoti

76,081

1

Instead of this script, one could directly run the cp followed by the mv command. – reza.safiyat Oct 05 '15 at 12:19

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 07 '19 at 09:19

0

You can use mc (Midnight Commander) inside the screen and the folders with with Ins and F6

answered Oct 07 '19 at 09:19

Toolkit

101

How to force overwrite non-empty directories using `mv`

3 Answers3

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