Content-type: text/html Manpage of CP

CP

Section: FSF (1)
Updated: July 2000
Index Return to Main Contents
 

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
preserve links
-f, --force
remove existing destinations, never prompt
-i, --interactive
prompt before overwrite
-l, --link
link files instead of copying
-p, --preserve
preserve file attributes if possible
-P, --parents
append source path to DIRECTORY
-r
copy recursively, non-directories as files WARNING: use -R instead when you might copy special files like FIFOs or /dev/zero
--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 whenever 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 SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_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 otherwise
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 © 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. 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.

 

Index

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
AUTHOR
REPORTING BUGS
COPYRIGHT
SEE ALSO
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Time: GMT, April 24, 2001