rm or delete Command
  
  
  Purpose
  
  Removes (unlinks) files or directories.
  
   Syntax
  
  { rm | delete } [  -f ] [  -r ] [  -R ] [  -i ] [  -e ] [  -- ]
  File ...
  
  Description
  
  The rm command removes the entries for the specified file or
  files from a directory.  If an entry  is the last link to a file,
  the file is then deleted.  You do not need read  or write permis-
  sion  for  the file you want to remove.  However, you  must  have
  write permission for the directory containing that file.
  
  If a file has no write permission specified and standard input is
  a workstation, the rm command displays the file-permission code
  and reads a line from standard input.  If that line begins with a
  y or the locale's equivalent of a y, the rm command deletes the
  file.  If the response is anything other than a y, the rm command
  does nothing to that file and  continues  with the next specified
  file.
  
  Flags
  
  -e	Displays a message after each file is deleted.
  
  -f	Does not prompt before removing a write-protected file.
  
  -i	Prompts you before deleting each file.  When you use the -i
  and -r flags together, the rm command also prompts before delet-
  ing directories.
  
  -r	Permits recursive removal of directories and their contents
  when the File parameter specifies a directory.  This flag is
  equivalent to the -R flag.
  
  -R	Permits recursive removal of directories and their contents
  when the File parameter is a directory.  This flag is equivalent
  to the -r flag.
  
  - -	Indicates that all arguments following it are to be treated
  as file names.  This allows you  to  specify  file names starting
  with one - (dash).
  
  Exit Status
  
  This command returns the following exit values:
  
  0	If the -f option was not specified, all the named directory en-
  tries were removed;  otherwise,  all the existing named directory
  entries were removed.
  
  >0	An error occurred.
  
  Examples
  
  1.	To delete a file, enter:
  
  rm myfile
  
  If there is another link to this file, then the file remains
  under that name, but the name myfile is removed.  If myfile is
  the only link, the file itself is deleted.
  
  2.	To delete a file silently, enter:
  
  rm -f core
  
  No confirmation prompt is issued before the rm -f command at-
  tempts to remove the file named core.  However, an error message
  will be displayed if the core file is write-protected and you are
  not the owner of  the file or you do not have root authority.  No
  error message is displayed when the rm -f command attempts to re-
  move nonexistent files.
  
  3.	To delete files one by one, enter:
  
  rm -i mydir/*
  
  After each file name is displayed, enter y to delete the file, or
  press the Enter key to keep it.
  
  4.	To delete a directory tree, enter:
  
  rm -ir manual
  
  This recursively removes the contents of all subdirectories of
  the manual directory, prompting you regarding the removal of each
  file, and then removes the manual directory itself, for example:
  
  You:  rm -ir manual
  System: rm: Select files in directory manual? Enter y for yes.
  You:  y
  System: rm: Select files in directory manual/draft1? Enter y for yes.
  You:  y
  System: rm: Remove manual/draft1?
  You:  y
  System: rm: Remove manual/draft1/chapter1?
  You:  y
  System: rm: Remove manual/draft1/chapter2?
  You:  y
  System: rm: Select files in directory manual/draft2? Enter y for yes.
  You:  y
  System: rm: Remove manual/draft2?
  You:  y
  System: rm: Remove manual?
  You:  y
  
  Here, the rm command first asks if you want it to search the
  manual directory.  Because the manual directory contains direc-
  tories, the rm command next asks for permission to search
  manual/draft1 for files to delete, and then asks if you want it
  to delete the manual/draft1/chapter1 and manual/draft1/chapter2
  files. The rm command next asks for permission to search the
  manual/draft2 directory.  Then asks for permission to delete the
  manual/draft1, manual/draft2, and manual directories.
  
  If you deny permission to remove a subdirectory (for example,
  manual/draft2), the rm command does not remove the manual direc-
  tory.  Instead, you see the message rm: Directory manual not emp-
  ty.
  
  Implementation Specifics
  
  This command is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
  
  Files
  
  /usr/bin/rm	Contains the rm command.
  
  /usr/bin/delete	Contains the delete command.
  
  Related Information
  
   Directory Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System User's Guide: Base
  and Devices.
  
   Understanding File and Directory Access Modes in AIX Version 3.2
  System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.
  
   Linking Files and Directories in AIX Version 3.2 System User's
  Guide: Base and Devices.
  
  The  del command,  ln command.
  
  The  unlink subroutine.