CP(1)                            User Commands
CP(1)



NNAAMMEE
       cp - copy files and directories

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       ccpp [_O_P_T_I_O_N]... [_-_T]
       _S_O_U_R_C_E _D_E_S_T ccpp
       [_O_P_T_I_O_N]... _S_O_U_R_C_E...
       _D_I_R_E_C_T_O_R_Y ccpp
       [_O_P_T_I_O_N]... _-_t
       _D_I_R_E_C_T_O_R_Y _S_O_U_R_C_E...

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

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

       --aa, ----aarrcchhiivvee
              same as --ddppPPRR

       ----bbaacckkuupp[=_C_O_N_T_R_O_L]
              make a backup of each existing destination file

       --bb     like ----bbaacckkuupp but does not
       accept an argument

       ----ccooppyy--ccoonntteennttss
              copy contents of special files when recursive

       --dd     same as
       ----nnoo--ddeerreeffeerreennccee
       ----pprreesseerrvvee=_l_i_n_k

       --ff, ----ffoorrccee
              if an existing destination file cannot be opened,
              remove it  and try again

       --ii, ----iinntteerraaccttiivvee
              prompt before overwrite

       --HH     follow command-line symbolic links

       --ll, ----lliinnkk
              link files instead of copying

       --LL, ----ddeerreeffeerreennccee
              always follow symbolic links

       --PP, ----nnoo--ddeerreeffeerreennccee
              never follow symbolic links

       --pp     same as
       ----pprreesseerrvvee=_m_o_d_e,ownership,timestamps

       ----pprreesseerrvvee[=_A_T_T_R___L_I_S_T]
              preserve the specified attributes (default:
              mode,ownership,time‐ stamps), if possible
              additional attributes: links, all

       ----nnoo--pprreesseerrvvee=_A_T_T_R___L_I_S_T
              don't preserve the specified attributes

       ----ppaarreennttss
              use full source file name under DIRECTORY

       --RR, --rr, ----rreeccuurrssiivvee
              copy directories recursively

       ----rreemmoovvee--ddeessttiinnaattiioonn
              remove each existing destination file
              before attempting to  open it (contrast with
              ----ffoorrccee)

       ----ssppaarrssee=_W_H_E_N
              control creation of sparse files

       ----ssttrriipp--ttrraaiilliinngg--ssllaasshheess
              remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE
              argument

       --ss, ----ssyymmbboolliicc--lliinnkk
              make symbolic links instead of copying

       --SS, ----ssuuffffiixx=_S_U_F_F_I_X
              override the usual backup suffix

       --tt,
       ----ttaarrggeett--ddiirreeccttoorryy=_D_I_R_E_C_T_O_R_Y
              copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

       --TT,
       ----nnoo--ttaarrggeett--ddiirreeccttoorryy
              treat DEST as a normal file

       --uu, ----uuppddaattee
              copy  only  when  the  SOURCE file is newer than
              the destination file or when the destination
              file is missing

       --vv, ----vveerrbboossee
              explain what is being done

       --xx,
       ----oonnee--ffiillee--ssyysstteemm
              stay on this file system

       ----hheellpp display this help and exit

       ----vveerrssiioonn
              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 ----ssppaarrssee=_a_u_t_o.
       Specify  ----ssppaarrssee=_a_l_w_a_y_s
       to  create  a sparse  DEST  file  whenever  the  SOURCE
       file  contains a long enough sequence of zero bytes.
       Use  ----ssppaarrssee=_n_e_v_e_r  to
       inhibit  creation  of sparse files.

       The   backup   suffix   is  `~',  unless  set  with
       ----ssuuffffiixx  or  SIM‐ PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.
       The version control method may be selected via  the
       ----bbaacckkuupp  option  or  through the
       VERSION_CONTROL environment variable.  Here are
       the values:

       none, off
              never make backups (even if
              ----bbaacckkuupp 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.

AAUUTTHHOORR
       Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and
       Jim Meyering.

RREEPPOORRTTIINNGG BBUUGGSS
       Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
       Copyright © 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software.  You may redistribute
       copies  of  it  under  the terms       of
       the      GNU      General      Public      License
       <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.  There is NO
       WARRANTY,  to  the extent permitted by law.

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       The  full  documentation  for ccpp is maintained as a
       Texinfo manual.  If the iinnffoo and ccpp programs
       are properly installed at your site, the  com‐ mand

              iinnffoo ccpp

       should give you access to the complete manual.



cp 6.7                           December 2006
CP(1)
