Can't remove folder with spaces w/ terminal?

[UnknownFear]

I am sure this has been asked a bunch of times, and I fixed it by renaming the folder to a single word, but why can't I delete a folder/directory with a space in it? For instance, I accidentally made an untitled folder by using the right-click menu, so being the terminal-n00b I am, decided to practice using hte terminal. So I opened it up and tried to delete the folder, but it wouldn't delete.



unknownfear@ubuntu:~$ rmdir untitled folder
rmdir: failed to remove `untitled': No such file or directory
rmdir: failed to remove `folder': No such file or directory
unknownfear@ubuntu:~$ rmdir untitled_folder
rmdir: failed to remove `untitled_folder': No such file or directory


It would not remove the directory at all. I even tried recursive (-r) and everything, nothing worked. I finally just renamed it a single-word directory and it worked.

Also, when I 'mkdir hello world', it created two separate directories. How can I make a single directory with two words?

[stooshbunutu]

it uses space as a delimiter, use either:


mkdir "new folder"

or


mkdir new\ folder

(using a "\" before each space)

Hope this helps

[drs305]

Add a quote symbol:

rm -R 'untitled folder'

[eltonw]

I am sure this has been asked a bunch of times, and I fixed it by renaming the folder to a single word, but why can't I delete a folder/directory with a space in it? For instance, I accidentally made an untitled folder by using the right-click menu, so being the terminal-n00b I am, decided to practice using hte terminal. So I opened it up and tried to delete the folder, but it wouldn't delete.



unknownfear@ubuntu:~$ rmdir untitled folder
rmdir: failed to remove `untitled': No such file or directory
rmdir: failed to remove `folder': No such file or directory
unknownfear@ubuntu:~$ rmdir untitled_folder
rmdir: failed to remove `untitled_folder': No such file or directory


It would not remove the directory at all. I even tried recursive (-r) and everything, nothing worked. I finally just renamed it a single-word directory and it worked.

Also, when I 'mkdir hello world', it created two separate directories. How can I make a single directory with two words?
To create a directory which has spaces in the name, you have to place the name between double quotes.
SEE: http://ss64.com/bash/mkdir.html
AND: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1483371

HTH...

[Miljet]

And the best idea is to get in the habit of not using spaces in file or folder names in the first place. Instead use untitled_folder or untitled-folder.

[UnknownFear]

@stooshbuntu, drs305: That worked, thank you :) Think I'll get in the habit of using double-quotes instead of the whole blackslash character.

[stooshbunutu]

@stooshbuntu, drs305: That worked, thank you :) Think I'll get in the habit of using double-quotes instead of the whole blackslash character.

You're very welcome :) happy to help.