small query about rm'ing files

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-01-2003 11:09am #1

I have a file on a linux account called "--remove-files" ... created after a rather silly mistake using tar

anyway. I can't figure out how to delete it.. when I try a simple rm I get
<mordeth@frink> [~] $ rm --remove-files
rm: unrecognized option `--remove-files'
Try `rm --help' for more information.

same problem with I try "--remove-files"

when I try rm *remove* I get the same error too.. I even tried ls *remove* and got this

<mordeth@frink> [~] $ ls *remove*
ls: unrecognized option `--remove-files'
Try `ls --help' for more information.

any ideas? it's not incredibly important but still.. it's annoying having it there

MiCr0 · 09-01-2003 11:14am

use the full path
so if its in /blah/blah
# rm /blah/blah/--remove-files

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-01-2003 11:15am

*mutter*

5 seconds after posting this I remember all about #unix.ie

thx Micr0 for the help

for anyonte interested all I had to do was use the full path of the file

rm /blah/blah/--remove-files

and that worked

longword · 09-01-2003 2:46pm

Alternative method, and this works for nearly all the command line utilities, is to use -- to denote the end of all command line options (but not parameters). i.e.

rm -- --remove-files

Also handy if for example you're trying to grep for -v in a bunch of files. grep -v * isn't gonna work. grep -- -v * will bring much happiness and satisfaction.

small query about rm'ing files

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