## Question:
Once upon a time, there was a file in my project that I would now like to be able to get.
The problem is: I have no idea of when have I deleted it and on which path was it at.
How can I locate the commits of this file when it existed?
## Answer:
Suppose you want to recover a file called MyFile, but are uncertain of its path (or its extension, for that matter):
Prelim.: **Avoid confusion by stepping to the git root**
A nontrivial project may have multiple directories with similar or identical names.
`> cd <project-root>`
**Find the full path**
`git log --diff-filter=D --summary | grep delete | grep MyFile`
> `delete mode 100644 full/path/to/MyFile.js`
`full/path/to/MyFile.js` is the path & file you're seeking.
**Determine all the commits that affected that file**
`git log --oneline --follow -- full/path/to/MyFile.js`
>`bd8374c Some helpful commit message`
> `ba8d20e Another prior commit message affecting that file`
> `cfea812 The first message for a commit in which that file appeared.`
**Checkout the file**
If you choose the first-listed commit (the last chronologically, here bd8374c), the file will not be found, since it was deleted in that commit.
`git checkout bd8374c -- full/path/to/MyFile.js`
> `error: pathspec 'full/path/to/MyFile.js' did not match any file(s) known to git.`
Just select the preceding (append a caret) commit:
`git checkout bd8374c^ -- full/path/to/MyFile.js`
---
Note, this was one of several answers on [StackOverflow](https://stackoverflow.com/a/42582877/6412747) -- I liked it best but there were several others worth reading.