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PJ.
Asked: 2010-03-21 20:58:58 +0800 CST

How can I open a file whose name starts with "-"?

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I am running Ubuntu, and would like to open a file whose file name starts with "-"(minus). When I try to open the file with pico or vim, the command thinks that the "-" sign is an option for the command.

I tried enclosing the file name with quotes ('), but I still get the same error.

I tried with bash and zsh, but still the same error.

ubuntu bash zsh

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    In cases where command -- -file does not work - since not every program uses the same option parsing routines, command ./-file works everywhere.

    • 24

  2. Place -- just before file name. In Unix it indicates the end of options for command.

    To be more concrete, use: vim -- -file.

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