CP(1)                    User Commands                    CP(1)





NAME
       cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS
       cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
       cp [OPTION]... -t 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  addi-
              tional 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 exist-
              ing 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

       -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
              copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

       -T, --no-target-directory
              treat DEST as a normal file

       -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  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

       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>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software; see the source for copying condi-
       tions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABIL-
       ITY 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.



cp 5.3.0                 November 2004                    CP(1)
