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bash: -bash: output: cannot overwrite existing file

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debuser

Post subject: bash: -bash: output: cannot overwrite existing file | Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:03 am

Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:48 am
Posts: 105

bash: -bash: output: cannot overwrite existing file

In Bash shell, redirecting output to a existing file is not possible if the "noclobber" bash option is set.

To overcome this, use the ">|" or ">>" redirect operator. The pipe will overwrite the file if you are using single angle bracket and append if you're using double angle brackets.

How to forcely overwrite a file with output from a command:

Code:

# cat output
# echo 'output' >output
-bash: output: cannot overwrite existing file
# echo 'output' >|output
# cat output
output

!!! Caution: using the ">|" operator can potentially overwrite important system/configuration files !!!

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Topics		Author	Replies	Views	Last post
Topics related to - "bash: -bash: output: cannot overwrite existing file"
	bash: Redirecting standard error to a shell variable and standard output to a file	debuser	0	4936	Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:54 am debuser
	How to change user login shell to bash in Linux	mandrei99	0	2809	Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:37 am mandrei99
	Daemontools /service/test/log: unable to open supervise/ok: file does not exist	debuser	0	5122	Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:11 am debuser
	Linux - Unable to login (and authentication succeeds) - File size limit exceeded	debuser	3	3194	Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:24 am admin
	Normalizing terminal prompt (or putty prompt) after catting a binary file	debuser	2	2564	Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:02 am jonnblaze

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