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Accepted
Peter Boughton
Asked: 2009-08-04 12:53:59 +0800 CST

How do I change to the directory I just moved that file to?

  • 772

So lets assume I've just done:

mv ./myfile /to/some/other/place/

And I now decide I want to follow the file, and go into that directory.

Whilst I could head for the mouse, select the text, type 'cd ', then right-click to paste - I'd prefer a faster keyboard-based directory.

So, what's the best way to do that?
(In general, and if different, Centos+Bash specifically)

linux unix bash shell directory

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    If you type "!$" it will print the last argument of the previous line. Which will be the directory you moved the file into.

    • 12

  2. Try 

    cd !$
    • 5

  3. Try "cd" and then "[Alt] + ." (can be used repeatedly) It will scroll all your previous commands last parameter. So it will look like:

    mv ./myfile /to/some/other/place/
cd <Alt>+.
    • 4

  4. Esc-. (Escape followed by Period) Gives you the last argument of the previous command, it is a readline shortcut. You can type it many times to cycle through the last arguments of previous commands. Readline is a command line entry library that is used by many shells (such as bash, same maintainer), irc clients, etc.

    This is probably my favorite keyboard shortcut (followed by ctrl-a for start of line and ctrl-e for end of line), give it a try ;-)

    Update: Oh, katriel posted Alt-. , this is the same thing, just different a key (Alt instead of Esc)

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  5. You can also use $_ as the last argument of the last command line

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