Dired: One confirmation for all selected files and directories

Question

Use-case:

Mark for deletion target files and directories at the dired buffer;
Execute 'dired-do-flagged-delete' (type 'x');

Result: I'm asked about confirmation for every non-empty directory being removed.

Question: is there easy way to say 'yes' one time and get all of the marked stuff (including non-empty directories) removed?

I googled that it's possible to set 'dired-recursive-deletes' to 'always' but that doesn't protect me from accidental 'delete' processing (e.g. mistyped 'x' while wrong directory is marked).

I understand that it's possible to customize emacs via lisp injections but I don't know that language so far, that's the reason why I'm asking whether there is other solution.

When you press `x`, you are prompted whether or not to delete all the marked files. With the `top` setting (default), you're prompted for each directory individually, and with the `always` setting you're not prompted (other than the initial prompt). Are you asking for two prompts - the initial one, which lists everything, and a second prompt which only lists the directories? — Trey Jackson, Jun 21 '11 at 18:43

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 22 '11 at 15:33

18

I think you found your answer but didn't try it.

(setq dired-recursive-deletes 'always)

And you'll only get a single prompt, asking if you want to delete the n items, and you'll get a list of them. You will not be further prompted for the directories.

answered Jun 22 '11 at 15:33

Trey Jackson

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Thanks, was misguided by the property description. – denis.zhdanov Jun 23 '11 at 05:52
1

You probably want this for copying directories too: `(setq dired-recursive-copies 'always)` – Nick McCurdy Oct 26 '17 at 11:52

Dired: One confirmation for all selected files and directories

1 Answers1