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How do I use "cd" to access a directory with a space, for example "XML 5.1 Final Fields" in a bash script

I tried cd XML 5.1 Final Fields

But it's giving the No such file or directory error.

This is the script:

#! /bin/bash
xmlfolder="XML/ \/5.1/ \/Final/ \/Fields"
xmlpath="/home/george/Desktop/m5u/test/$xmlfolder"
cd $xmlpath

ls /home/george/Desktop/m5u/test/    
XML 5.1 Final Fields

~/Desktop/m5u/test$ ll
drwxr-xr-x  9 george george      4096 Feb 18 12:44 XML 5.1 Final Fields

this is the error I get when I run the script

line 5: cd: /home/george/Desktop/m5u/test/XML\: No such file or directory
Tim
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George Ulahannan
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    You could type cd george and then hit tab it autocompletes the command if it finds suitable candidates. Then hit enter to fire up the command. – YpsilonKah Feb 18 '16 at 11:56
  • Also stat george+TAB+ENTER to see how the file is actually named. It might have some space or other stuff at the end. – kos Feb 18 '16 at 11:58
  • See also http://mywiki.wooledge.org/Quotes – Rmano Feb 18 '16 at 11:59
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    It's "\ " (backslash-space), not " " (space-backslash). But really... read the link above. – Rmano Feb 18 '16 at 12:00
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    What is the actual path? george ulahnnan linux or XML[...]? – kos Feb 18 '16 at 12:03
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    You know, this question has been asked and answered multiple times here. http://askubuntu.com/search?q=file+name+with+spaces – Panther Feb 18 '16 at 12:38

1 Answers1

5

Your variable xmlfolder is wrong. It should be

xmlfolder=XML\ 5.1\ Final\ Fields

or ="XML 5.1 Final Fields"

You don't need the / in the path - as it's just one folder. You also don't need the "" if you are also using \. Pick one.

since your edit with the ls command, I can see there may be a space at the end of your folder name. I'd suggest you remove the space, either by renaming in nautilus or with the mv command.

If you want to keep the space, your variable name should be this:

xmlfolder=XML\ 5.1\ Final\ Fields\

or

xmlfolder="XML 5.1 Final Fields "

Note that if you use the First option with the \ character, you also need to refer to the variable with "", i.e. "$xmlfolder".

The error suggests that cd is unhappy with the path.

Try changing the cd command from this

cd $xmlpath

to

cd "$xmlpath"

To be perfectly honest, you shouldn't need to cd in a bash script. Just refer to everything with an absolute path.

In summary, your xmlfolder= line should be xmlfolder=XML\ 5.1\ Final\ Fields, and your cd line should be cd "xmlpath".

My pronouns are He / Him

Tim
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  • xmlfolder="XML\ 5.1\ Final\ Fields" xmlpath=/home/george/Desktop/m5u/test/$xmlfolder cd $xmlpath

    getting same error

     – George Ulahannan Feb 18 '16 at 12:07
  • @GeorgeUlahannan You've got to be clear about your actual path, otherwise no one's gonna be able to help you. You should start by editing your question so that it shows the output of stat * in the directory you're running the script in. – kos Feb 18 '16 at 12:09
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    You know, this question has been asked and answered multiple times here. http://askubuntu.com/search?q=file+name+with+spaces – Panther Feb 18 '16 at 12:38