Copy every file of entire directory structure into base path of another

Question

I have a directory-tree with a lot of files in it. I'd like to copy all of those files into one new directory, but with all files located in the base of the folder.

So I have something like this:

    images
    ├── avatar.png
    ├── bg.jpg
    ├── checkbox.png
    ├── cross.png
    ├── datatables
    │   ├── back_disabled.png
    │   ├── back_enabled.png
    │   ├── forward_disabled.png
    │   ├── forward_enabled.png
    │   ├── sort_asc.png
    │   ├── sort_asc_disabled.png
    │   ├── sort_both.png
    │   ├── sort_desc.png
    │   └── sort_desc_disabled.png
    ├── exclamation.png
    ├── forms
    │   ├── btn_left.gif
    │   ├── btn_right.gif
    │   ├── checkbox.gif
    │   ├── input
    │   │   ├── input_left-focus.gif
    │   │   ├── input_left-hover.gif
    │   │   ├── input_left.gif
    │   │   ├── input_right-focus.gif
    │   │   ├── input_right-hover.gif
    │   │   ├── input_right.gif
    │   │   ├── input_text_left.gif
    │   │   └── input_text_right.gif
    │   ├── radio.gif
    │   ├── select_left.gif
    │   ├── select_right.gif

And I'd like something like this:

    new_folder
    ├── avatar.png
    ├── bg.jpg
    ├── checkbox.png
    ├── cross.png
    ├── back_disabled.png
    ├── back_enabled.png
    ├── forward_disabled.png
    ├── forward_enabled.png
    ├── sort_asc.png
    ├── sort_asc_disabled.png
    ├── sort_both.png
    ├── sort_desc.png
    ├── sort_desc_disabled.png
    ├── exclamation.png
    ├── btn_left.gif
    ├── btn_right.gif
    ├── checkbox.gif
    ├── input_left-focus.gif
    ├── input_left-hover.gif
    ├── input_left.gif
    ├── input_right-focus.gif
    ├── input_right-hover.gif
    ├── input_right.gif
    ├── input_text_left.gif
    ├── input_text_right.gif
    ├── radio.gif
    ├── select_left.gif
    ├── select_right.gif

I'm pretty sure there is a bashcommand for that, but I haven't found it yet. Do you have any ideas?

CS

score 35 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 21 '12 at 08:33

35

find /source-tree -type f -exec cp {} /target-dir \;

answered Mar 21 '12 at 08:33

Kaz

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this is truely the best solution. Is it possible that you breakdown the command and explain what which "operator" does? f.e -type? Would be very cool tho! – y.y Oct 02 '20 at 11:09

cctan · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-08T02:10:40.607

13

you are looking for ways to flatten the directory

find /images -iname '*.jpg' -exec cp --target-directory /newfolder/ {} \;

find all files iname in case insensitive name mode.
cp copy once to --target-directory named /newfolder/.
{} expand the list from find into the form of /dir/file.jpg /dir/dir2/bla.jpg.

edited Mar 08 '16 at 02:10

answered Mar 21 '12 at 09:43

cctan

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didn't work for me with "cp: illegal option -- -". Kaz's answer worked for me – alexey Mar 07 '16 at 22:04
@alexey I cant reproduce your error, what environment did you run it in? – cctan Mar 08 '16 at 02:11
oh you're right - I'm using OSX's (10.11.2) built in bash which is known to be out of date: GNU bash, version 3.2.57(1)-release (x86_64-apple-darwin15) – alexey Mar 09 '16 at 18:09
It doesn't work on alpine based docker also, am getting the following `cp: unrecognized option: target-directory` `BusyBox v1.28.4 (2018-07-17 15:21:40 UTC) multi-call binary.` – julianalimin Nov 03 '18 at 14:56

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 14 '16 at 15:59

2

On zsh:

cp /source/**/* /destination

answered Feb 14 '16 at 15:59

gbin

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Grégory Roche · Answer 4 · 2015-05-02T19:42:52.020

0

$ cd images && cp ** new_folder/

edited May 02 '15 at 19:42

answered May 02 '15 at 19:32

Grégory Roche

162
2
9

1

This solution response to the question correctly. She is very similar to the solution under Zsh. So, why -1 ??? – Grégory Roche Feb 19 '17 at 21:29
It doesn't copy hidden files BTW – Metal3d May 17 '17 at 14:17

Copy every file of entire directory structure into base path of another

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