Why does `cd downloads` fail with "No such file or directory"?

Question

Running Ubuntu 12.04, while in a terminal, I type ls and see list of folders, including the downloads folder. I then type cd downloads, press Enter. I get:

bash: cd: downloads: No such file or directory

I tried each folder, on two computers. What am I missing?

score 18 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 12 '17 at 06:01

18

Linux file and directory names are case-sensitive. The default name of the downloads directory in Ubuntu is Downloads not downloads.

edited Oct 12 '17 at 06:01

Zanna

70,465

answered Jun 18 '12 at 12:28

Samik

2,660

Probably a misunderstanding, rather than a blatant typo. – Thomas Ward Jun 18 '12 at 12:37
I just knew it would be something dumb! Many thanks – Rich Dell Jun 18 '12 at 12:41
@RichDell You may want to accept this answer. – Eliah Kagan Jun 18 '12 at 22:36
The answer seems perfect but we can also let the system indifferent to CASE setting the inputrc file, see answer below – SergioAraujo Jun 19 '12 at 17:37

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 12 '17 at 05:45

3

To make Bash behave case-insensitively, edit your ~/.inputrc (create it if it doesn't exist) and add

set completion-ignore-case on

start a new shell (type bash or close the terminal and open a new one) or source ~/.inputrc, and then try

cd dowTab

and watch it complete to

cd Downloads/

edited Oct 12 '17 at 05:45

Zanna

70,465

answered Jun 19 '12 at 17:35

SergioAraujo

439

While making tab-completion case-sensitive is a great thing, It doesn not answer the question why the ls command in this case didn't work? – Nanne Nov 03 '12 at 07:19

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 23 '16 at 04:19

1

You need to observe two things:

Spelling of the word i.e. you should type Downloads not downloads.
Downloads folder must be in Home directory

edited Oct 23 '16 at 04:19

answered Oct 23 '16 at 01:11

C Siam

11
1

penreturns · Answer 4 · 2012-06-19T17:36:56.437

0

It should cd Downloads with a capital D.

edited Jun 19 '12 at 17:36

answered Jun 18 '12 at 12:53

penreturns

5,950

Why does `cd downloads` fail with "No such file or directory"?

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