missing file operand cp after su

Question

I run this command on ubuntu:

su - test -c cp /home/test/toto.txt /home/test/dir

But I have this error!

cp: missing file operand

anyone has an idea about the problem? thank you

If I were to say, "use sudo instead of su", that wouldn't help would it? — Mr Lister, Aug 01 '13 at 11:37

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 01 '13 at 11:37

0

Option -c is understood by command su, taking the next argument (not the remaining) to be the command. That next command is just cp.

Try putting the command into quotes:

su - test -c 'cp /home/test/toto.txt /home/test/dir'

If this is problematic because you want to have quotes inside the command, try using escape instead of the inner quotes:

su - test -c 'echo hello\ \ there'

answered Aug 01 '13 at 11:37

Alfe

You mean like that?: su - test cp /home/test/toto.txt /home/test/dir – ATEF CHAREF Aug 01 '13 at 12:10

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