2

I have a directory structured like this, 

/var/www/html/content/
|_dir1/
| |_somefile.txt
| |_anotherfile.js
| |_anotherfile.min.js
|
|_dir2/
  |_somefile.txt
  |_anotherfile.js
  |_anotherfile.min.js

I want to copy dir1 and dir2 to another directory. I have tried with the following command but it copies the entire content directory to the new location. I only need the directories inside content to be there. 

cd ~/Desktop/new_location/
cp -r /var/www/html/content/. ./

Update 2

Both, 

cp -r /var/www/html/content/. ./

and 

cp -r /var/www/html/content/* ./

works fine. I have mistakenly included aonther content directory within the content directory making it /var/www/html/content/content

Update 1
Using the command posted by @Appleoddity in the first answer on a fresh directory works. But on the actual directory which I need to copy it fails. What could be the reason for this? Check the attached image.
See it works on the new directory but not on the original

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2
cp -R /var/www/html/content/* /tmp/new_location/

. means “this” directory. * means everything in “this” directory.

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  • Tried it also. But still, it copies the content directory. I read on a StackOverflow answer that I should use the . but both are not working – isuru-buddhika Feb 1 '18 at 4:45
  • @isuru-buddhika What do you mean it copies the content directory? This command will NOT create a content directory in the destination. It should copy the entire contents of the content directory. – Appleoddity Feb 1 '18 at 4:47
  • @isuru-buddhika make sure you are using capital R. Not sure if it makes a difference here. – Appleoddity Feb 1 '18 at 4:50
  • Hmm. actually, when I tested with * on a new directory it works fine. Currently, I have my script set use the * at the end. But on my old directory, it directly copies the parent directory instead of the content inside. What could be the reason for this? – isuru-buddhika Feb 1 '18 at 4:53
  • @isuru-buddhika is the old directory a symlink? – Appleoddity Feb 1 '18 at 4:57
0

What is your linux distro ? I use the ubuntu 16.04.3 and it works by:

cp -r /var/www/html/content/* /tmp/new_location/

-r and -R are the same results :)

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