scp remote file to local machine [duplicate]

Question

as a part of script I'm trying to copy a file from remote site. But got an error. To me that sounds bit strange as everything sounds ok:

#aaa="/path/to/some file with spaces(and brackets).txt" .... #scp [email protected]:"$aaa" /test/ bash: -c: line 0: syntax error near unexpected token `(' bash: -c: line 0: `scp -f /path/to/some file with spaces.txt' 

upd: problem with brackets...

Answer 1

You need to escape each spaces and brackets :

#!/bin/bash aaa='/path/to/some\ file\ with\ spaces\(and brackets\).txt' scp [email protected]:"$aaa" /test/ 

By the way, a more friendly alternative would be to enclose $aaa with single quotes in addition to double quotes :

#!/bin/bash aaa='/path/to/some file with spaces(and brackets).txt' scp [email protected]:"'$aaa'" /test/ 

Answer 2

Below worked for me. I think you just need to escape the spaces, brackets or anything else and you should be good.

#!/bin/bash aaa="/tmp/untitled\ text\ 2.txt" scp -r [email protected]:"$aaa" . 

Answer 3

I created a file on my remote host with the literal name `"/tmp/some file with spaces(and brackets).txt~.

If you double+single quote the name like so I was able to transfer it. Inspired by this question.

/tmp$ scp remotehost:"'/tmp/some file with spaces(and brackets).txt'" . some file with spaces(and brackets).txt 100% 0 0.0KB/s 00:00 

With a variable

/tmp$ aaa="/tmp/some file with spaces(and brackets).txt" /tmp$ scp puppet:"'$aaa'" . some file with spaces(and brackets).txt 100% 0 0.0KB/s 00:00