cp

 

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 CP(1)                          FSF                          CP(1)
 
 
 
NAME
        cp - copy files and directories
 
SYNOPSIS
        cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
        cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
        cp [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE...
 
DESCRIPTION
        Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
 
        -a, --archive
               same as -dpR
 
        --backup[=CONTROL]
               make a backup of each existing destination file
 
        -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument
 
        -d, --no-dereference
               never follow symbolic links
 
        -f, --force
               if  an  existing destination file cannot be opened,
               remove it and try again
 
        -i, --interactive
               prompt before overwrite
 
        -H     follow command-line symbolic links
 
        -l, --link
               link files instead of copying
 
        -L, --dereference
               always follow symbolic links
 
        -p, --preserve
               preserve file attributes if possible
 
        --parents
               append source path to DIRECTORY
 
        -P     same as `--parents' for  now;  soon  to  change  to
               `--no-dereference' to conform to POSIX
 
        -r     copy recursively, non-directories as files WARNING:
               use -R instead when you might  copy  special  files
               like FIFOs or /dev/zero
 
        --remove-destination
               remove   each   existing  destination  file  before
               attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
 
        --sparse=WHEN
               control creation of sparse files
 
        -R, --recursive
               copy directories recursively
 
        --strip-trailing-slashes remove any trailing slashes  from
        each SOURCE
               argument
 
        -s, --symbolic-link
               make symbolic links instead of copying
 
        -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
               override the usual backup suffix
 
        --target-directory=DIRECTORY
               move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
 
        -u, --update
               copy only when the SOURCE file is  newer  than  the
               destination  file  or  when the destination file is
               missing
 
        -v, --verbose
               explain what is being done
 
        -x, --one-file-system
               stay on this file system
 
        --help display this help and exit
 
        --version
               output version information and exit
 
        By default, sparse SOURCE files are detected  by  a  crude
        heuristic  and  the corresponding DEST file is made sparse
        as well.  That is the behavior selected by  --sparse=auto.
        Specify --sparse=always to create a sparse DEST file when­
        ever the SOURCE file contains a long  enough  sequence  of
        zero  bytes.   Use  --sparse=never  to inhibit creation of
        sparse files.
 
        The backup suffix is `~', unless set with --suffix or SIM­
        PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.   The  version  control  method  may be
        selected via the  --backup  option  or  through  the  VER­
        SION_CONTROL environment variable.  Here are the values:
 
        none, off
               never make backups (even if --backup is given)
 
        numbered, t
               make numbered backups
 
        existing, nil
               numbered  if  numbered backups exist, simple other­
               wise
 
        simple, never
               always make simple backups
 
        As a special case, cp makes a backup of  SOURCE  when  the
        force and backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are
        the same name for an existing, regular file.
 
AUTHOR
        Written by Torbjorn Granlund,  David  MacKenzie,  and  Jim
        Meyering.
 
 REPORTING BUGS
        Report bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.
 
 COPYRIGHT
        Copyright © 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
        This  is  free software; see the source for copying condi­
        tions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY
        or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
SEE ALSO
        The  full  documentation for cp is maintained as a Texinfo
        manual.   If  the  info  and  cp  programs  are   properly
        installed at your site, the command
 
               info cp
 
        should give you access to the complete manual.
 
 
 
 cp (fileutils) 4.1          April 2001                      CP(1)

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