scp copy all files in a directory with some exeptions

Question

I want to remote copy a directory (multiple actually but this is a simple example), but I want it to NOT copy any .dat files that it find the there.

I am currently using:

scp -r remotemachine:/directory .

But my .dat files are large and so I would rather not include them in the copy.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Unfortunately scp doesn't have any options to filter files. You're better off using rsync:

rsync -rP --exclude '*.dat' user@server:/destination

Answer 2

Try mc with its shell link. It should honor [!.dat]* (or similar) filter while copying.

Answer 3

Try this:

scp -r [!.dat]* remotemachine:/directory

and let us know.