


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)




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CP(1)                          FSF                          CP(1)


       --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




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CP(1)                          FSF                          CP(1)


       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 (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 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.

























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