Deleting multiple files from git

Question

Other than individually deleting each file (i.e. git rm src/classes/Config.php, git rm src/public/ajax.php, etc, etc), how can all these files be deleted from git?

[Michael@devserver main]$ git status
# On branch master
# Your branch is ahead of 'origin/master' by 1 commit.
#
# Changed but not updated:
#   (use "git add/rm <file>..." to update what will be committed)
#   (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
#
#       deleted:    src/classes/Config.php
#       deleted:    src/public/ajax.php
#       deleted:    src/public/fileuploader.php
#       deleted:    src/public/index2.php
#       deleted:    src/public/json_encode.php
#       deleted:    src/public/petstore.json
#       deleted:    src/public/resources/index.php
#       deleted:    src/public/slimttest.php
#       deleted:    src/public/temp.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test/bla.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test/file1.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test/file2.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test2.php
#       deleted:    src/public/testAPI.php
#       deleted:    src/public/testAPI2.php
#       deleted:    src/public/test_original.php
#       deleted:    src/public/testfile.php
#       deleted:    temporary.txt
#
no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")
[Michael@devserver main]$

poke · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-04 12:51:00Z

1

You can use git add --update or git add -u in short to stage all changes that are displayed in the “Changed but not updated” section in git status.

Using this option on git add will not stage untracked files, so it’s safe to use even when you have lots of other changes (unlike git add -A).

This is especially helpful for situations like yours where you have lots of removed files. If you have some changes you do not want to stage, you can afterwards use git reset <path> to unstage the change (without undoing that change of course).

answered Nov 4, 2016 at 12:51

poke

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5 Comments

user1032531 Over a year ago

What if I already added them using git add .? Maybe do git checkout -- *, and then do as you say?

poke Over a year ago

git add . will only add files it physically finds in the working directory. So you will not be able to stage file removals that way. And using git add -u will not affect your already staged changes; it works additionally, so whatever you staged stays staged but in addition all changes in the “Changed but not updated” section are also added.

user1032531 Over a year ago

Didn't attempt to check them out, but just did git add -u, and all is good.

poke Over a year ago

git checkout -- * will actually undo all unstaged changes in the current directory. So you should not do that if you want to keep your changes :)

1615903 Over a year ago

@poke Except it doesn't undo deletions, because * is interpreted by the shell, and the shell doesn't know about the deleted files.

Wander Nauta · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-04 12:49:58Z

1

You're looking for git add -u (or --update). From man git add:

This removes as well as modifies index entries to match the working tree, but adds no new files.

answered Nov 4, 2016 at 12:49

Wander Nauta

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