In Bash can I copy the last typed argument to the cursor position?

Question

Suppose I have the following in my terminal:

> cp my_file_name originals/#

Where the # represents the cursor.

Is there a key combination to insert my_file_name into the cursor position, so that I don't have to type it again? I'm aware of ALT+. to get the last argument from the previous command, but I want the previous argument from the current command!

Any ideas?

Thanks

Rich

Answer 1

One way of doing it is using brace expansion:

cp {,originals/}my_file_name

Answer 2

You can use Ctrl+w to cut the argument and store it in your clipboard, and then Ctrl+y to paste it again:

cp my_file_nameCtrl + w Ctrl + y originals/Ctrl + y

Answer 3

Here's another way, although I'm not certain why you are looking to do what you are trying to do, since the file name is implied in your cp command example (and would work as expected).

> F=my_file_name && cp $F Workspace/$F

This could be expanded out, also, to rename the file:

> F=my_file_name && cp $F Workspace/$F.new

Answer 4

Complicated usage, but simpler setup:

You can bind a keystroke (I'll use Ctrl-Q) to the readline copy-backward-word function and do this:

Alt-2 Ctrl-Q Ctrl-y Ctrl-Alt-h

That means:

• digit-argument copy-backward-word (copy the two preceding words)
• yank (paste)
• backward-kill-word (get rid of the extra word)

To bind the keystroke at the command line:

bind '"\C-q": copy-backward-word'

or add this to your ~/.inputrc:

"\C-q": copy-backward-word

Simpler usage, but more complicated setup:

You can make that long keystroke sequence into a macro triggered by one keystroke (I'll use Alt-q here and make use of the Ctrl-q binding from above):

At a shell prompt:

bind '"\eq": "\e2\C-q\C-y\e\C-h"'

or in your ~/.inputrc:

"\eq": "\e2\C-q\C-y\e\C-h"

Remember, you'll also need to bind Ctrl-q as above.

Now to copy the word before the current one all you need to press is Alt-q.

Answer 5

you could try this:

cp my_file_name [ctrl-w] [ctrl-y] originals/[ctrl-y]

but that dosent work when already at the end of the line. perhaps something similar might work though. (and with copy, not cut)

edit: try [alt-b] [ctrl-w] [ctrl-y] [end] [ctrl-y] -- bit of a messy solution though !