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How to enter alt key codes in a Linux BASH shell

I'm using ssh in a rsync script. I'm trying to transfer files from a folder name which has spaces in the name:

rsync -avz -e "ssh -i local-rsync-key /<mybackupdir> backup@<remoteIP>:/datafiles/folder name with space/*"

SSH is having trouble understanding the spaces. I want to use an alt-key-combination such as ALT-0255 on the keypad to enter a space, but I can't quite figure out how to do that in the BASH shell in linux.

hernst42

try correct quoting like:
rsync -avz -e "ssh -i local-rsync-key" /<mybackupdir> "backup@<remoteIP>:/datafiles/folder name with space/*"
then it should work also with spaces

omarfarid

You may use single quotes around the folder name

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ahoffmann

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thomaswright

ASKER

You got me on the right track. Thanks!

thomaswright

ASKER

The proper syntax for the solution is

sync -avz -e "ssh -i local-rsync-key /<mybackupdir> backup@<remoteIP>:'/datafiles/folder name with space/'*"

Note: Notice the single quotes surrounding the entire path.

thomaswright

ASKER

Correction!: I forget a double quote before @backup:

This works:

sync -avz -e "ssh -i local-rsync-key /<mybackupdir> "backup@<remoteIP>:'/datafiles/folder name with space/'*"

thomaswright

ASKER

I also forgot the destination path, so its:

rsync -avz -e "ssh -i local-rsync-key /<mybackupdir> "backup@<remoteIP>:'/datafiles/folder name with space/'*" /<destinationpath>/