Delete a file in linux that contains double dash

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Unable to remove a special named files in terminal

I feel silly asking, but how can I delete a file in linux named --preserve-permissions?

I tried:

rm "--preserve-permissions"

and

rm "\-\-preserve-permissions"

Neither works. Thanks.

One, two or more dashes, what's the difference? none, I believe. — Nabil Kadimi, Feb 03 '14 at 22:18

wallyk · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27T10:29:20.260

20

There are several techniques, but the most straightforward for this kind of filename is:

rm ./--preserve-permissions

For filenames with unprintable or hard-to-decipher characters, use

rm -i *

This prompts with each filename and waits for a y or n whether to delete the file (interactive).

edited Dec 27 '12 at 10:29

answered Dec 27 '12 at 10:12

wallyk

This is the most simple and powerful approach! – Cheng Jianhua Jan 11 '22 at 05:43

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 27 '12 at 10:11

13

Use:

rm -- --preserve-permissions

The -- by itself means "switches end here, everything that follows is a file name".

answered Dec 27 '12 at 10:11

Greg Hewgill

Maxim Egorushkin · Answer 3 · 2012-12-27T20:16:08.790

2

edited Dec 27 '12 at 20:16

answered Dec 27 '12 at 10:16

Maxim Egorushkin

1

No, just give a path starting with `./` or with `/` – Basile Starynkevitch Dec 27 '12 at 10:41
@BasileStarynkevitch this is the most generic method which gets you out of jam with any kind of weird filenames. – Maxim Egorushkin Dec 27 '12 at 10:56
1

But you don't need that. The other answers are much more relevant. – Basile Starynkevitch Dec 27 '12 at 16:39
1

@BasileStarynkevitch it solves the problem anyway – Maxim Egorushkin Dec 27 '12 at 17:17
2

But the statement "you need to use inode number" is false; the original poster don't need to care about inode numbers, and the other replies are relevant even on file systems without reliable inode numbers (e.g. VFAT) – Basile Starynkevitch Dec 27 '12 at 19:03
@BasileStarynkevitch fair enough, changed to can. – Maxim Egorushkin Dec 27 '12 at 20:17

3 Answers3