How to delete a file with prefix ":" in git

Question

I create a file named ":w" with unknown reason. And I cannot delete this file using "git rm". Now I wonder how to delete this file in the branch.

Was it committed? Or is it just there and not yet added? What OS? — Leigh, Apr 04 '14 at 08:11

Simson · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-04T08:17:57.637

4

Try to escape the filename and it should work.

git rm  '\:w'

or delete the file in the filesystem and commit

rm ./?w
git commit -v -a

edited Apr 04 '14 at 08:17

answered Apr 04 '14 at 08:12

Simson

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thanks, I have deleted the file successfully using your method. – Jun HU Apr 04 '14 at 08:20
1

You could also use `git rm -- :w` -- see [this](http://stackoverflow.com/q/13321458/720999). – kostix Apr 04 '14 at 14:14

Alex Trebek · Answer 2 · 2014-04-04T08:22:37.910

From gitrevisions(7):

:, e.g. HEAD:README, :README, master:./README

A suffix : followed by a path names the blob or tree at the given path in the tree-ish object named by the part before the colon. :path (with an empty part before the colon) is a special case of the syntax described next: content recorded in the index at the given path. A path starting with ./ or ../ is relative to the current working directory. The given path will be converted to be relative to the working tree’s root directory. This is most useful to address a blob or tree from a commit or tree that has the same tree structure as the working tree.

Therefore, the colon is treated as a special character, and not treated literally.

Try prefixing the path with ./.

$ ls
:w
$ git rm :w
fatal: pathspec ':w' did not match any files
$ git rm ./:w
rm ':w'

Thanks for your kind help, I have solved the problem successfully. — Jun HU, Apr 04 '14 at 08:21

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 04 '14 at 17:28

0

I just tested it and if you do

$ git rm ./:w

It will work

answered Apr 04 '14 at 17:28

user3361136

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How to delete a file with prefix ":" in git

3 Answers3