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[SOLVED] Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Sep 28th, '12, 06:02
by gabo
So I was using my gmail account and i downloaded an attacment, it was a PDF file, but when i try to opn it, move it or erase it, the system says that theres no such existent file in the directory. The file is in my desktop and i really want to erase it and i always get the same error message.

hope you can help :)

Re: Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Sep 28th, '12, 09:29
by djennings
I get this occasionally with files I get sent from Sweden whose names contain swedish characters.

The solution I use is to delete or rename the files using Midnight Commander which is a command line file manager.
Install the package 'mc' and start it in a terminal window.

Re: Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Sep 30th, '12, 16:30
by gabo
Ive been trying to use that command but i dont really know how it works, if you could give me some instruccions i would appreciate it.
The name of the file I want to erase is "Calendarizaci+?n.pdf" and it is located on my desktop.

Thanx

Re: Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Sep 30th, '12, 22:20
by djennings
Midnight Commander is quite easy to use. It is what file managers used to look like back in the days of Windows 3.1 You may be too young to remember :)

On starting you will see two panes, one on the left pane, one on the right. To start with both panes will show your home directory.

The 'Tab' key will switch the focus between left and right panes. This allows you to work in two folders at once.

Scroll down the pane using the down arrow on your keyboard until you find a folder called 'Desktop' clicking on the folder will cause you to enter the folder.
(Clicking on the '.' at the top of a folder listing causes you to exit the folder.)

Now scrolldown with the down arrow to the file you want to delete and delete it using the F8 key

at the bottom of the screen you will see a list of frequently used commands and their function keys.
To exit Midnight Commander use F10

F1 gives a help screen Esc will exit help.

Re: Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Oct 1st, '12, 23:18
by gabo
Wow!! thank you very much, I couldnt do it before because I was pressing number keys instead of "F" keys. My file is finally erased.

Thanks :D

Re: Trying to erase a non existent file

PostPosted: Oct 2nd, '12, 01:08
by jkerr82508
djennings wrote:Midnight Commander is quite easy to use. It is what file managers used to look like back in the days of Windows 3.1

Actually, the twin panel "commander" style pre-dates Windows 3.1 by several years. The first that I can recall was an IBM free-ware application that was made available for PC DOS 1.0 (or perhaps it was 1.10) which would have been in about 1983. (IIRC it was called "File Command".) There then followed the more famous Norton Commander which was also originally written for DOS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Commander

Sorry for this detour down memory lane. :)

Jim