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, −−archivesame as −dR
−−preserve=all
−−attributes−onlydon't copy the file data, just the attributes
−−backup[=CONTROL]make a backup of each existing destination file
−blike −−backup but does not
accept an argument
−−copy−contentscopy contents of special files when recursive
−dsame as −−no−dereference
−−preserve=links
−f, −−forceif an existing destination file cannot be opened,
remove it and try again (redundant if the −n option is used)
−i, −−interactiveprompt before overwrite (overrides a previous
−n option)
−Hfollow command−line symbolic links in SOURCE
−l, −−linklink files instead of copying
−L, −−dereferencealways follow symbolic links in SOURCE
−n, −−no−clobberdo not overwrite an existing file (overrides a
previous −i
option)
−P, −−no−dereferencenever follow symbolic links in SOURCE
−psame as −−preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
−−preserve[=ATTR_LIST]preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all
−−no−preserve=ATTR_LISTdon't preserve the specified attributes
−−parentsuse full source file name under DIRECTORY
−R, −r, −−recursivecopy directories recursively
−−reflink[=WHEN]control clone/CoW copies. See below
−−remove−destinationremove each existing destination file before
attempting to open it (contrast with −−force)
−−sparse=WHENcontrol creation of sparse files. See below
−−strip−trailing−slashesremove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
−s, −−symbolic−linkmake symbolic links instead of copying
−S, −−suffix=SUFFIXoverride the usual backup suffix
−t, −−target−directory=DIRECTORYcopy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
−T, −−no−target−directorytreat DEST as a normal file
−u, −−updatecopy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing
−v, −−verboseexplain what is being done
−x, −−one−file−systemstay on this file system
−−helpdisplay this help and exit
−−versionoutput 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.
When −−reflink[=always] is specified, perform a
lightweight copy, where the data blocks are copied only when
modified. If this is not possible the copy fails, or if
−−reflink=auto is specified, fall back to
a standard copy.
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.
Report cp bugs to bug−coreutils@gnu.org
GNU coreutils home page: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
General help using GNU software: <http://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
Report cp translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>
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 © 2011 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. |