


LN(1)                          FSF                          LN(1)


NAME
       ln - make links between files

SYNOPSIS
       ln [OPTION]... TARGET [LINK_NAME]
       ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY
       ln [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY TARGET...

DESCRIPTION
       Create  a  link  to  the  specified  TARGET  with optional
       LINK_NAME.  If LINK_NAME is omitted, a link with the  same
       basename  as  the  TARGET is created in the current direc-
       tory.  When using the second form with more than one  TAR-
       GET,  the last argument must be a directory;  create links
       in  DIRECTORY  to  each  TARGET.   Create  hard  links  by
       default,  symbolic  links  with --symbolic.  When creating
       hard links, each TARGET must exist.

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

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

       -d, -F, --directory
              hard link directories (super-user only)

       -f, --force
              remove existing destination files

       -n, --no-dereference
              treat destination that is a symlink to a  directory
              as if it were a normal file

       -i, --interactive
              prompt whether to remove destinations

       -s, --symbolic
              make symbolic links instead of hard links

       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
              override the usual backup suffix

       --target-directory=DIRECTORY
              specify the DIRECTORY in which to create the links

       -v, --verbose
              print name of each file before linking

       --help display this help and exit

       --version
              output version information and exit

       The  backup  suffix  is  `~',  unless set with --suffix or



ln (fileutils) 4.1          April 2002                          1





LN(1)                          FSF                          LN(1)


       SIMPLE_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

AUTHOR
       Written by Mike Parker and David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 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 ln is maintained as a Texinfo
       manual.   If  the  info  and  ln  programs  are   properly
       installed at your site, the command

              info ln

       should give you access to the complete manual.




















ln (fileutils) 4.1          April 2002                          2


