bluetooth-sendto

bluetooth-sendto --device=[address|name] --file=filename

--device=[address|name]
    Specifies the target Bluetooth device by either its MAC address (e.g., 00:11:22:33:44:55) or its Bluetooth name.

--file=filename
    Specifies the full path to the file that should be sent to the Bluetooth device. If this option is not provided, a graphical file selection dialog may appear, allowing the user to select the file interactively.

--help
    Display help text and exit.

--version
    Output version information and exit.

The bluetooth-sendto command is a utility for transferring files to Bluetooth devices. It provides a command-line interface to initiate the Bluetooth file transfer process. The command allows you to select a target device by either its name or MAC address. Once a device is selected, it presents a graphical interface (if X is available) allowing you to choose the file to send.

It leverages the OBEX (Object Exchange) protocol for file transfer, a widely used standard in Bluetooth communication. The program internally utilizes the BlueZ Bluetooth stack to communicate with Bluetooth adapters and manage device connections. The intended purpose is convenience, offering a simple way to push files to paired Bluetooth devices directly from the terminal.

It is important to note that bluetooth-sendto depends on the availability of a graphical environment if no target name is provided and a file needs to be selected.

The command's graphical interface (file selection dialog) requires an X server to be running. Without a display environment, operation may fail if the --file argument isn't provided. The effectiveness of file transfer depends on the Bluetooth device's compatibility with the OBEX profile and the quality of the Bluetooth connection.

If the --file option is not provided, bluetooth-sendto attempts to launch a graphical file selection dialog. This requires an active X server environment. In headless systems (e.g., servers without a GUI), the command will likely fail or behave unexpectedly if --file is omitted. Ensure a display is available or always specify the file path directly.

The bluetooth-sendto command is part of the broader BlueZ Bluetooth stack for Linux. It has evolved as part of making Bluetooth more accessible to command-line users. Early versions were often script based, relying on lower-level tools, but it was eventually formalized as a user-friendly utility. Its primary usage has always been to simplify file transfer to Bluetooth-enabled devices directly from the shell.

hciconfig(8), hcitool(1), sdptool(1)