cp manual

CP(1)                            User Commands                           CP(1)



NAME
      cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS
      cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
      cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
      cp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION
      Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

      Mandatory  arguments  to  long  options are mandatory for short options
      too.

      -a, --archive
             same as -dpR

      --backup[=CONTROL]
             make a backup of each existing destination file

      -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument

      --copy-contents
             copy contents of special files when recursive

      -d     same as --no-dereference --preserve=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 in SOURCE

      -l, --link
             link files instead of copying

      -L, --dereference
             always follow symbolic links in SOURCE

      -P, --no-dereference
             never follow symbolic links in SOURCE

      -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps

      --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
             preserve   the   specified   attributes   (default:  mode,owner‐
             ship,timestamps), if possible  additional  attributes:  context,
             links, all

      --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
             don’t preserve the specified attributes

      --parents
             use full source file name under DIRECTORY

      -R, -r, --recursive
             copy directories recursively

      --remove-destination
             remove  each existing destination file before attempting to open
             it (contrast with --force)

      --sparse=WHEN
             control creation of sparse files

      --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

      -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
             copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

      -T, --no-target-directory
             treat DEST as a normal file

      -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 behav‐
      ior  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   SIM‐
      PLE_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 .

COPYRIGHT
      Copyright  ©  2008  Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU
      GPL version 3 or later 
      This is free software: you are free  to  change  and  redistribute  it.
      There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

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  com‐
      mand

             info cp

      should give you access to the complete manual.



GNU coreutils 6.9.92.4-f088d-dirtJanuary 2008                            CP(1)