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Renaming a file using the command line

You can use the command line to rename any file in your repository.

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

This procedure assumes you've already:

  1. Open TerminalTerminalGit Bash.

  2. Change the current working directory to your local repository.

  3. Rename the file, specifying the old file name and the new name you'd like to give the file. This will stage your change for commit.

    $ git mv old_filename new_filename
  4. Use git status to check the old and new file names.

    $ git status
    > # On branch your-branch
    > # Changes to be committed:
    > #   (use "git reset HEAD ..." to unstage)
    > #
    > #     renamed: old_filename -> new_filename
    > #
  5. Commit the file that you've staged in your local repository.

    $ git commit -m "Rename file"
    # 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.
    
  6. 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

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