How do you find files, then copy the files into an existing directory. I am to find files starting with N which is not more than 10 days old, then copy the N files into an existing N directory. All in single command. The problem now is I don't know how to move the files into an existing directory. find N* -mtime -10 then move into an existing directory Directory is users/students/280501/kl004358/cprogram/N this code cannot be use find . -name 'N*' -mtime -10 -exec mv {} N/ \; error message prompt out find: -exec not terminated with ';' by the way,whats the meaning N/\;

find . -name 'N*' -mtime -10 -exec mv {} N/ \ You need to have a space preceeding the \; -exec mv {} N/ The {} is a substitute for what is returned by the find command. -exec mv {} N/ say to execute the move command on the results and move to the N directory.

thanks, but i still cannot execute the command. can i have the full command line.

I don't understand. Are you saying you cannot execute "find" because it is not in your path?

my question is Find all files in my home directory newer than 10 days and with names starting with N and copy these files into a directory called back up the directory name is /users/students/200104/dh006834/backup. i type your command exactly the same.but this message come out -exec not terminated with ';'

Sorry, I didn't notice how this forum mangled my reponse. Yes, anything other than a simple find needs to end with a backslash then semi-colon. There should have been a ";" at the end of the find command I posted.