Why should I escape the semicolon with find?












2














I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write



find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {}  /media/MP3Player/ ;


escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
The find man never uses it.






find options







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    -exec command ;
    – Jeff Schaller
    5 hours ago
















2














I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write



find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {}  /media/MP3Player/ ;


escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
The find man never uses it.






find options







share|improve this question









New contributor




Poor Standard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 1




    -exec command ;
    – Jeff Schaller
    5 hours ago














2












2








2







I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write



find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {}  /media/MP3Player/ ;


escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
The find man never uses it.






find options







share|improve this question









New contributor




Poor Standard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I'm using bash on Debian. I have to write



find -iname "*mp3" -exec cp {}  /media/MP3Player/ ;


escaping the final semicolon, or else I get an error.
The find man never uses it.






find options




find options






share|improve this question









New contributor




Poor Standard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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Poor Standard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 5 hours ago









Jeff Schaller

39k1053125




39k1053125






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asked 5 hours ago









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Poor Standard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    -exec command ;
    – Jeff Schaller
    5 hours ago














  • 1




    -exec command ;
    – Jeff Schaller
    5 hours ago








1




1




-exec command ;
– Jeff Schaller
5 hours ago




-exec command ;
– Jeff Schaller
5 hours ago










1 Answer
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5














You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.



Also, the manual does state in relevant part:




-exec utility [argument ...] ;



[...]



The expression must be terminated by a semi-
colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
control operator.




n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.






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    You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.



    Also, the manual does state in relevant part:




    -exec utility [argument ...] ;



    [...]



    The expression must be terminated by a semi-
    colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
    control operator.




    n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.






    share|improve this answer




























      5














      You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.



      Also, the manual does state in relevant part:




      -exec utility [argument ...] ;



      [...]



      The expression must be terminated by a semi-
      colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
      control operator.




      n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.






      share|improve this answer


























        5












        5








        5






        You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.



        Also, the manual does state in relevant part:




        -exec utility [argument ...] ;



        [...]



        The expression must be terminated by a semi-
        colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
        control operator.




        n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.






        share|improve this answer














        You have to escape the semicolon so that your current shell doesn't see it and use it as a command separator before find gets to see it and use it to terminate the command you're sending to -exec.



        Also, the manual does state in relevant part:




        -exec utility [argument ...] ;



        [...]



        The expression must be terminated by a semi-
        colon (;). If you invoke find from a shell you may need to quote the semicolon if the shell would otherwise treat it as a
        control operator.




        n. b. quickly searching my find manual shows examples of the ; syntax.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 5 hours ago

























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        DopeGhoti

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