Moving a file to a new location using the command line

Many files can be moved directly on GitHub Enterprise, but some files, such as images, require that you move them from the command line.

This procedure assumes you've already:

• Created a repository on GitHub Enterprise, or have an existing repository owned by someone else you'd like to contribute to
• Cloned the repository locally on your computer

1. On your computer, move the file to a new location within the directory that was created locally on your computer when you cloned the repository.

2. Open TerminalTerminalGit Bash.

3. Use git status to check the old and new file locations.

   $ git status
   > # On branch your-branch
   > # Changes not staged for commit:
   > #   (use "git add/rm ..." to update what will be committed)
   > #   (use "git checkout -- ..." to discard changes in working directory)
   > #
   > #     deleted:    /old-folder/image.png
   > #
   > # Untracked files:
   > #   (use "git add ..." to include in what will be committed)
   > #
   > #     /new-folder/image.png
   > #
   > # no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

4. Stage the file for commit to your local repository. This will delete, or git rm, the file from the old location and add, or git add, the file to the new location.

   $ git add .
   # Adds the file to your local repository and stages it for commit. To unstage a file, use 'git reset HEAD YOUR-FILE'.
   

5. Use git status to check the changes staged for commit.

   $ git status
   > # On branch your-branch
   > # Changes to be committed:
   > #   (use "git reset HEAD ..." to unstage)
   > #
   > #    renamed:    /old-folder/image.png -> /new-folder/image.png
   # Displays the changes staged for commit

6. Commit the file that you've staged in your local repository.

   $ git commit -m "Move file to new directory"
   # Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository. To remove this commit and modify the file, use 'git reset --soft HEAD~1' and commit and add the file again.
   

7. Push the changes in your local repository to your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

   $ git push origin your-branch
   # Pushes the changes in your local repository up to the remote repository you specified as the origin

Further reading

• "Renaming a file using the command line"
• "Adding a file to a repository using the command line"