I have a symlink
~/link -> ~/a/really/long/path
When I do
cd ~/link
cd ..
it takes me to
~
but I want to go to
~/a/really/long
Is there a way to do this?
I am using bash.
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1You mean `cd ~/a/really/long/path` then `cd ..` puts you in `~` at the moment? I can't reproduce that. – Mikel Apr 11 '11 at 05:13
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2@Mikel: No, first create a symlink to `~/a/really/long/path` then cd to that then to `..`. You should end up back in ~ (assuming that's where you started). – Xodarap Apr 11 '11 at 05:50
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Is my edit accurate? I couldn't understand the question before. – Mikel Apr 11 '11 at 06:28
3 Answers
41
Bash (as well as ksh, zsh, and even ash) track directory changes so that cd /foo/bar && cd .. always takes you to /foo even if bar is a symlink. Pass the -P option to cd to ignore the tracked change and follow the “physical” directory structure:
cd -P ..
See help cd or man builtins for documentation about the bash builtin cd.
If you really dislike the directory tracking feature, you can turn it off with set -P in bash (set -o no_chase_link in zsh).
Faheem Mitha
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Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
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1The way I read the question, the OP has `-P` or `-o physical` already set? – Mikel Apr 11 '11 at 05:14
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@Mikel: No, the question says that he is following the symbolic link, not the physical directory structure. – Faheem Mitha Apr 11 '11 at 08:02
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Sorry, I didn't actually try to edit your post. Suggested edit submitted now. – Faheem Mitha Apr 11 '11 at 10:00
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You can also use readlink to find the physical path to this directory, then go one directory higher:
cd $(readlink -f .)/..
dhasenan
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One method you could use is to use an alias instead of a symlink to take you to ~/a/really/long/path. That's the method I use, since then I can just type a simple 1/2/et cetera letter command instead of cd symlink
Wipqozn
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