Dired: One confirmation for all selected files and directories

12
votes

Use-case:

  1. Mark for deletion target files and directories at the dired buffer;
  2. Execute 'dired-do-flagged-delete' (type 'x');

Result: I'm asked about confirmation for every non-empty directory being removed.

Question: is there easy way to say 'yes' one time and get all of the marked stuff (including non-empty directories) removed?

I googled that it's possible to set 'dired-recursive-deletes' to 'always' but that doesn't protect me from accidental 'delete' processing (e.g. mistyped 'x' while wrong directory is marked).

I understand that it's possible to customize emacs via lisp injections but I don't know that language so far, that's the reason why I'm asking whether there is other solution.

1
emacsdired
When you press x, you are prompted whether or not to delete all the marked files. With the top setting (default), you're prompted for each directory individually, and with the always setting you're not prompted (other than the initial prompt). Are you asking for two prompts - the initial one, which lists everything, and a second prompt which only lists the directories? - Trey Jackson
I'm asking about single confirmation for 'delete all'. - denis.zhdanov

1 Answers

18
votes

I think you found your answer but didn't try it.

(setq dired-recursive-deletes 'always)

And you'll only get a single prompt, asking if you want to delete the n items, and you'll get a list of them. You will not be further prompted for the directories.