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Is there a convenient way to rename a file (or dir) without redundantly repeating the path or directory-changing to it?

For example …

mv -some_flag db/migrations/abc_201911201243.php abc_20191101090000.php

… to rename the file without moving it out of that directory.

I looked into the man pages for mv, rename and rsync but didn't find anything, so I'm wondering if there is by chance a non-obvious trick to do this.

WoodrowShigeru
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2 Answers2

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Use brace expansion:

mv -some_flag db/migrations/abc_201911{201243,01090000}.php
Jeff Schaller
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choroba
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  • That's so cool! I learned something useful today. And I've taken the liberty of removing the -some_flag since in my question it was assumed to be part of the solution; but for this solution, it isn't. – WoodrowShigeru Nov 20 '19 at 15:14
  • @WoodrowShigeru: Well, including it was kind of needed, as it demonstrates nothing can be placed between the file names. – choroba Nov 20 '19 at 15:20
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I guess I already found a suitable solution: you change the directory and then return.

cd db/migrations/ && mv abc_201911201243.php abc_20191101090000.php && cd ~-
WoodrowShigeru
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    or, if you find it simpler, a subshell: (cd db/migrations/ && mv abc_201911201243.php abc_20191101090000.php) – Jeff Schaller Nov 20 '19 at 13:07
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    note, if mv aborts, shell won't return you to original directory – rush Nov 20 '19 at 13:29
  • But after you type "cd db/migrations/ && mv abc_", and you press TAB, nothing happens. The brace expansion is a bit both - nice idea. For me, a cd, a tab completion and a corrected tab completion is as convenient as it can get. Depends on the length of the names also, and copy pasting them or not (hey it is allowed...sometimes ;) –  Nov 20 '19 at 16:55