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Asked: 2024-09-24T20:24:54+05:30 In:

How can I create several duplicates of a single file while assigning different names to each copy in Ubuntu?

I’ve run into a bit of a pickle. So, here’s the situation: I’ve got this single file on my Ubuntu system that I need to make several copies of, but each copy has to have a different name. I guess you could say I’m trying to batch rename the duplicates as I create them, but honestly, I’m a bit stumped on the best way to go about this.

Let’s say I have a file called “report.txt.” I want to create, like, five copies: “report_copy1.txt,” “report_copy2.txt,” “report_copy3.txt,” and so on. I could do it manually, and I’ve contemplated that, but you know how tedious renaming files one by one can be! I’d love to find a more efficient method to handle this.

I’m familiar with basic terminal commands, so if there’s a way to do it using bash or any other command-line tool, I’m all ears! Maybe there’s a nifty script or command that can help automate this? I wouldn’t want to overlook an easy solution when I’m just trying to save some time.

And if there’s a graphical way to do this, I’d be interested too, but I lean more towards the command line for its speed and power. How do I handle this? Should I use a loop in a bash script for the task? Or is there a more straightforward command that I’m just not aware of?

I’d really appreciate any tips or step-by-step instructions you can share. If you’ve faced something similar yourself, I’d love to hear about how you tackled it. I’m sure there’s got to be a neat trick or two out there that I’m missing. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

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    2 Answers






    1. Copying Files on Ubuntu

      How to Make Copies of a File in Ubuntu

      So, you’ve got this file called report.txt, and you need to make a few copies of it with different names. Don’t worry; there’s a pretty straightforward way to do this using a bash loop!

      Using a Bash Loop

      Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where your report.txt file is located. Then you can run this command:

      for i in {1..5}; do cp report.txt report_copy$i.txt; done

      Let’s break down what this does:

      • for i in {1..5}; sets up a loop that runs from 1 to 5.
      • do indicates the start of the commands to be repeated.
      • cp report.txt report_copy$i.txt; tells the system to copy report.txt and name the copy report_copy1.txt, report_copy2.txt, and so on.
      • done ends the loop.

      Graphic Way (If You Prefer)

      If you’re more into GUI stuff:

      1. Right-click on the report.txt file.
      2. Select “Copy” from the context menu.
      3. Paste it back in the same folder (right-click and select “Paste”).
      4. Rename the new file to report_copy1.txt.
      5. Repeat for the rest of the copies.

      But honestly, the loop method is way faster if you’re making a lot of copies.

      Final Touches

      That’s pretty much it! Just change the small numbers in the loop if you need more or fewer copies and adjust the base file name as needed. Now go ahead and give it a try!


    2. To create multiple copies of your file with different names on your Ubuntu system, you can efficiently use a simple Bash loop in the terminal. Assuming your original file is named `report.txt`, you can open your terminal and navigate to the directory containing the file. Then, run the following command:

      for i in {1..5}; do cp report.txt report_copy$i.txt; done

      This command uses a for loop to iterate from 1 to 5. In each iteration, it creates a copy of `report.txt` and assigns it a new name, such as `report_copy1.txt`, `report_copy2.txt`, and so on, until `report_copy5.txt`. It’s a quick and effective way to duplicate your file with varying names without the need for tedious manual renaming. If you prefer a graphical approach, Ubuntu’s file manager allows you to right-click the file, select “Copy,” and then paste it multiple times, followed by manually renaming each copy, but the command line method is certainly faster and more suited for batch operations.

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