cp — copy files and directories
cp
[OPTION
...] [−T
] SOURCE
DEST
cp
[OPTION
...] SOURCE
... DIRECTORY
cp
[OPTION
...] −t
DIRECTORY
SOURCE
...
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,ownership,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 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:
never make backups (even if −−backup
is given)
make numbered backups
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
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.
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 coreutils 'cp invocation'
should give you access to the complete manual.
COPYRIGHT |
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Copyright © 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html> This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. |