rm -rf too many arguments 1

[dodge20]

I am running into this problem. I am trying to delete a big directory by using rm -rf, but I get a message saying too many arguments. I am using unix sco 5.0.5

Is there a limitation to this? Or a work around to get this fixed. I use this on a daily basis, but the really big directories (this last one i tried had over 1200 files) I get this too many arguments message.

Any help is appreciated.

Dodge20

 

[olded]

You're overflowing the command line buffer. Take a look at this for a work around:

http://www.unixreview.com/documents/s=8274/sam0306g/

 

[dodge20]

So could I just write

xargs rm -rf dirname

I am a little confused.

Dodge20

 

[dodge20]

or how about

find /user/jay2/test -type d | xargs rm -rf

Dodge20

 

[Annihilannic]

If you are just typing rm -rf dirname then there is only one argument, so I can't see why you are getting that message. Did you perhaps type rm -rf dirname/* instead?

Annihilannic.

 

[dodge20]

Annihilannic

No this is run in a small program. I just did a test on the

find /user/jay2/test -type d | xargs rm -rf

and it worked.

Thanks olded for pointing me in the right direction. If you see anything that i need to change or can make better - let me know.

Thanks

Dodge20