In this article, we will walk you through the process of moving a file to the trash via the terminal in Ubuntu. This can be particularly useful when you’re working on a server or don’t have access to a graphical user interface.
To move a file to the trash via the terminal in Ubuntu, you can use the gio trash command followed by the file name. For example, gio trash myfile.txt will move the file "myfile.txt" to the trash.
Understanding the Terminal
The terminal, also known as the command line, is a powerful tool that allows you to control your computer using text-based commands. It’s often faster and more efficient than using a graphical interface, especially for complex or repetitive tasks.
The gio Command
To move a file to the trash, we’ll use the gio command, which is part of the GNOME desktop environment used by Ubuntu. The gio command allows you to interact with the virtual file system, including the trash.
Moving a Single File to Trash
To move a single file to the trash, you can use the gio trash command followed by the file name. Here’s an example:
gio trash myfile.txtIn this command, myfile.txt is the name of the file you want to move to the trash. You should replace this with the actual name of your file.
Moving Multiple Files to Trash
You can also use the gio trash command to move multiple files to the trash at once. To do this, you can use wildcards. For example, the following command will move all text files in the current directory to the trash:
gio trash *.txtIn this command, *.txt is a wildcard that matches any file with the .txt extension.
Viewing the Trash
To view the files in the trash, you can use the gio list trash:// command. This will display a list of all files currently in the trash.
Emptying the Trash
If you want to empty the trash, you can use the gio trash --empty command. This will permanently delete all files in the trash.
Alternative Methods
If you’re not using the GNOME desktop environment, or if you prefer a different approach, you can use the trash-cli package. This package provides a set of commands for interacting with the trash, including trash-put to move files to the trash, trash-list to list files in the trash, and trash-empty to empty the trash. You can install it using the following command:
sudo apt-get install trash-cliConclusion
The terminal is a powerful tool for managing files in Ubuntu, including moving files to the trash. By understanding the gio command and its parameters, you can quickly and efficiently manage your files without needing to use a graphical interface. Whether you’re working on a server or just prefer the command line, these commands can make your work easier and more efficient.
Yes, you can move a file to the trash via the terminal in Ubuntu using the gio trash command.
To move a single file to the trash, use the command gio trash [filename], replacing [filename] with the name of the file you want to move.
Yes, you can move multiple files to the trash at once using the gio trash command with wildcards. For example, gio trash *.txt will move all text files in the current directory to the trash.
To view the files in the trash, use the command gio list trash://. This will display a list of all files currently in the trash.
Yes, you can empty the trash via the terminal using the command gio trash --empty. This will permanently delete all files in the trash.
Yes, if you’re not using the GNOME desktop environment or prefer a different approach, you can use the trash-cli package. It provides commands like trash-put to move files to the trash, trash-list to list files in the trash, and trash-empty to empty the trash. You can install it using sudo apt-get install trash-cli.
