Changing the previous command in linux

Question

Is there a way to change the previous command in linux? I'm copying a bunch of files using

cp path/to/source1 path/to/target2

and I want to change it to

cp path/to/source2 path/to/target2

so I want to replace the 1 with the 2

I know I can put this inside a loop but I need to do this after checking something in my notebook.

what do you mean by "change the command"? can you please explain it other way? — Jan Vorcak, Dec 07 '11 at 12:36

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:36

8

!!:gs/1/2/

Here are some more examples: http://mark.stosberg.com/Tech/tips/bash.tips

answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:36

Emil Vikström

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Great! Is there a way to change a command which wasn't the last? – Yotam Dec 07 '11 at 12:51
Not in a clean way that I know of, no. – Emil Vikström Dec 07 '11 at 12:59
afaik you can use instead of !! also !-n where n is the number of previously line you want. !! is nothing else than !-1. – flolo Dec 07 '11 at 15:21

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:37

2

the command for this manipulation of history is:

^old-text^new-text

For more reading I can just recommend the man page of bash, esp. the parts of readline and history.

answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:37

flolo

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Thanks. Is there a way to change a command that is not the last? Also, this change only the first occurance of old-text – Yotam Dec 07 '11 at 12:52

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:43

I suppose you do this in a command line, not in bash script the quickest way is to write cp and PRESS Alt+., press space, and Press Alt+. again and repair the path

Alt+. gives you last parameter you used

Ctrl+R gives you reverse search

UP arrow gives you latest commands

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 07 '11 at 12:39

press the up arrow to get the last command, then change whatever you want to have different.

or if you want to address an older command hit 'Ctrl-r' then start typing what you want and if the correct old command appears hit right arrow to make it the current. Then change whatever you want to change.

Changing the previous command in linux

4 Answers4