14

If i'm writing a long command or just typing an extensive file path, is there any that i can "reuse" it with some command shortcut?

e.g:

1.cp /home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there.png /home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there.png.bkp

Do i really have to type it all over again?

wonea
  • 1,877
Fisher
  • 223

3 Answers3

15

Use brace expansion

cp /home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there.png{,.bkp}
bbaja42
  • 3,051
5

Also, history expansion can work here:

cp /home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there.png !#:1.bkp

where the !#:1 part refers to the first argument of the command you're currently typing.

glenn jackman
  • 27,524
2

You can save lots of time typing that by using tab expansion, the tilde shortcut, and command history.

For instance, 

~/r[tab]/b[tab]/f[tab]/h[tab]/a[tab]/t[tab]/

(where [tab] means "press the Tab key") would expand to

/home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there

You could also type

cp /home/myuser/really/big/file/here/and/there.png /some/destination

then press up-arrow and just change the last three letters of the filename

CarlF
  • 8,872