Working on an Ubuntu server, you often need to reorganize directory structures. A common task is moving all contents (files and subdirectories) from a nested folder to its parent directory.


Given the following structure where you're currently in /folder1:
/folder1/
    ├── file1.txt
    └── folder2/
        ├── file2.txt
        ├── file3.log
        └── subfolder/
            └── file4.csv

To move everything from folder2 to folder1, use:
mv folder2/* .

For recursive movement including hidden files:
mv folder2/{.,}* . 2>/dev/null || :

Case 1: When folder2 contains subdirectories
mv folder2/* ./
mv folder2/.* ./ 2>/dev/null || true

Case 2: Using find command for complex scenarios
find folder2 -mindepth 1 -exec mv -t . {} +


Forgetting the dot (.) as destination
Not handling hidden files
Moving the parent folder itself accidentally

For large directory trees or remote operations:
rsync -a folder2/ .
rm -rf folder2



When organizing files on a Linux server, you might encounter situations where you need to flatten your directory structure. A typical case is when you want to move all contents (including files and subdirectories) from a nested folder up one level to its parent directory.
The Linux mv command, combined with proper wildcards, can accomplish this task efficiently. Here's the basic syntax:
mv /folder1/folder2/* /folder1/
The above command won't move hidden files (those starting with a dot). To include them:
mv /folder1/folder2/{*,.*} /folder1/ 2>/dev/null || true
While the previous commands move files, they don't properly handle nested subdirectories. For complete recursive movement:
mv /folder1/folder2/* /folder1/folder2/.* /folder1/ 2>/dev/null || true
rmdir /folder1/folder2
Let's break down a practical scenario where you're in folder1 and want to move everything from folder2:
# Current directory structure
$ pwd
/folder1
$ ls folder2
file1.txt  file2.jpg  subfolder  .hiddenfile

# Move all contents
$ mv folder2/* folder2/.* ./ 2>/dev/null || true

# Verify folder2 is empty
$ rmdir folder2
For more complex scenarios where you need selective movement, find can be more precise:
find folder2/ -mindepth 1 -exec mv -t ./ {} +
Be cautious when:

Moving large numbers of files (consider using rsync for better progress tracking)
Dealing with files that might overwrite existing ones in the destination
Handling special characters in filenames