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Asked: 2024-09-27T03:31:31+05:30 In:

Is there a method to both extract the contents of a ZIP file and remove the file itself in one command on Ubuntu?

I was going through some old files on my Ubuntu system and stumbled upon a bunch of ZIP files that I had been meaning to extract for ages. The thing is, I don’t want to clutter my system with all of these extracted files and the original ZIP files laying around. So, I had this thought: wouldn’t it be super convenient if there was a way to extract the contents of a ZIP file and delete the original ZIP file in one fell swoop?

I know there are commands to extract ZIP files, like using `unzip` or something, but I’ve been told that they only deal with extraction. Then I typically have to run a separate command to remove the file using `rm`. I mean, come on, who has time for that? Especially when you’re trying to clear up space and could be getting distracted by all those lingering ZIP files.

I did some searching online, and while I found a bunch of information on extracting and managing files, I didn’t find anything that directly answered my question. It feels silly, but I can’t believe I’m the only one who has thought about this! It would save so much time and hassle if there was a slick one-liner that would do both actions in one go.

So, is there really a command that combines these two actions? If so, what does that command look like? Or maybe there’s a way to do this using a script? I would love to hear if you’ve found an elegant solution for this or if you know any workarounds that do the job without requiring me to be a command-line wizard.

Also, I’d geek out over any other tips you have for managing files like this on Ubuntu because honestly, I’m trying to streamline my workflow and reduce all the little pointless steps. I know it’s just a little thing, but it can make such a difference when you’re doing it repeatedly. Thanks for any help you can throw my way!

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    2 Answers



    1. Extract and Delete ZIP Files on Ubuntu

      How to Extract and Delete ZIP Files in One Go on Ubuntu

      You’re definitely not alone in wanting a quick way to extract ZIP files and remove them at the same time! Luckily, there is a neat one-liner you can use in the terminal to achieve just that.

      You can use the following command: 

              unzip -o yourfile.zip && rm yourfile.zip

      Let’s break it down a bit:

      • unzip -o yourfile.zip: This extracts the contents of the ZIP file. The -o flag allows it to overwrite any existing files without asking.
      • &&: This ensures that the next command only runs if the unzip command is successful.
      • rm yourfile.zip: This removes the original ZIP file after it has been successfully extracted.

      Just replace yourfile.zip with the actual name of your ZIP file, and you’re good to go!

      If you want to do this for multiple ZIP files at once, you can use a loop in the terminal: 

              for file in *.zip; do unzip -o "$file" && rm "$file"; done

      This will go through all ZIP files in your current directory, extract them, and delete them right after. Super handy!

      As for managing files on Ubuntu, here are a couple of additional tips:

      • Use tab completion in the terminal to easily fill in file names and paths, which saves time.
      • Try using aliases for your most used commands. For example, add alias uz="unzip -o" to your .bashrc file for quicker access.
      • Sort and organize your files into separate directories to keep clutter at bay.

      Streamlining your workflow can make your life so much easier! Hope this helps you tackle those ZIP files!




    2. Extract and Delete ZIP Files in Ubuntu

      Yes, there is a convenient way to extract the contents of a ZIP file and delete the original file in a single command using the terminal in Ubuntu. You can use a combination of the `unzip` command with the `&&` operator to achieve this. The command would look like this: unzip file.zip && rm file.zip. This command will extract file.zip, and if the extraction is successful, it will proceed to delete the original ZIP file. Using `&&` ensures that the second command (removing the ZIP file) only runs if the first command (extraction) completes without errors, making this a safe way to combine both actions into one logical line.

      If you find yourself frequently performing this operation, you might want to create a simple shell script. You can create a script named extract_and_delete.sh with the following content:

      #!/bin/bash
    unzip "$1" && rm "$1"

      Make sure to give it execute permissions with chmod +x extract_and_delete.sh. You can then run it by passing the ZIP file you want to extract as an argument: ./extract_and_delete.sh file.zip. This way, you streamline your workflow and minimize the number of commands you need to type each time. Additionally, for better file management in Ubuntu, consider organizing files in directories based on their types or projects, and regularly cleaning up unused files to maintain an efficient workspace.


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