How to copy a file and move it to a location using unix

Question

I need a file to stay in the same location but also move it to a different location.
What am I doing wrong?

cp RubyTest.sublime-settings \
    ~/Library/Application Support/Sublime\ Text\ 2/Packages/User

Answer 1

Put quotes around the path, but leave the ~ out of the quotes:

cp RubyTest.sublime-settings \
    ~/"Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 2/Packages/User"

Within quotes, you can't use the ~ syntax, but you can use the longer $HOME instead:

cp RubyTest.sublime-settings \
    "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 2/Packages/User"

Answer 2

Stay in the same location and move to a different location is impossible - unless you are taling about a symbolic link.

cp will make a copy of your file to a new location without modifying the original version.

As the comment says, your big problem is spaces in file names. Wrap your arguments to cp in quotes. The ~ character won't expand to your home directory if it's in quotes; either use $HOME instead (which is expanded in double quotes) or leave the ~ outside the quotes.

cp "RubyTest.sublime-settings" \
    "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 2/Packages/User"
cp "RubyTest.sublime-settings" \
    ~/"Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 2/Packages/User"