cp(1)

copy files and directories

Package: coreutil, added for amigaux.

This package comes with the extra set; without it, cp is the original one: see cp-original(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.

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=link
--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: same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
--preserve[=ATTR_LIST]: preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: links, all
--no-preserve=ATTR_LIST: don't preserve the specified attributes
--parents: append source path to DIRECTORY
-P: same as `--no-dereference'
-R, -r, --recursive: copy directories recursively
--remove-destination: remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
--reply={yes,no,query}: specify how to handle the prompt about an existing destination file
--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
--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 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:

none, off: never make backups (even if --backup 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.

AUTHOR

Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.