How to go to a directory that has spaces in its name?

Question

I am beginner to the Mac command line interface.

For example I want to go to directory "how are you".

But when I type cd how are you, it is avoided. When I change the name to be without space, howareyou to the directory, it works. Any help?

And also how to create an AppleScript script to go to particular a directory?

Answer 1

cd 'how are you'

Or,

cd how\ are\ you

Answer 2

And to avoid problems, use Tab to automatically complete the name for you. Like if you have three directories in your home folder, ~/:

• "how are you"
• "how are we"
• "how is she"

Then:

• type "cd ~/h", press Tab; this yields "cd ~/how\ " and a beep, telling you there's more
• optionally: press Tab again, to see the list of matching names
• next, type "a", press Tab; this yields "cd ~/how\ are\ " and a beep
• optionally: press Tab again, to see the list of matching names
• next, type "y", press Tab; this yields "cd ~/how\ are\ you/"

(Funny: the rendering of the backtick is slightly different in text and in lists. Favouring lists then...)

Answer 3

If you simply want an AppleScript to change it's current working directory, it isn't possible for the entire script as do shell script "uses a new shell process, so state such as changes to variables and the working directory is not saved from one to the next." (Source)

do shell script 'cd /PATH/TO/DIRECTORY/; more commands here'

If you want to use AppleScript to open up and change to the directory in Terminal:

tell application "Terminal"
    activate
    do script "cd /PATH/TO/DIRECTORY"
end tell