1CP(1)                            User Commands                           CP(1)
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NAME

6       cp - copy files and directories
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SYNOPSIS

9       cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
10       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
11       cp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
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DESCRIPTION

14       Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
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16       Mandatory  arguments  to  long  options are mandatory for short options
17       too.
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19       -a, --archive
20              same as -dpPR
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22       --backup[=CONTROL]
23              make a backup of each existing destination file
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25       -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument
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27       --copy-contents
28              copy contents of special files when recursive
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30       -d     same as --no-dereference --preserve=link
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32       -f, --force
33              if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it  and
34              try again
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36       -i, --interactive
37              prompt before overwrite
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39       -H     follow command-line symbolic links
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41       -l, --link
42              link files instead of copying
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44       -L, --dereference
45              always follow symbolic links
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47       -P, --no-dereference
48              never follow symbolic links
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50       -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
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52       --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
53              preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,time‐
54              stamps)  and   security   contexts,   if   possible   additional
55              attributes: links, all
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57       --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
58              don't preserve the specified attributes
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60       --parents
61              use full source file name under DIRECTORY
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63       -R, -r, --recursive
64              copy directories recursively
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66       --remove-destination
67              remove  each existing destination file before attempting to open
68              it (contrast with --force)
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70       --sparse=WHEN
71              control creation of sparse files
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73       --strip-trailing-slashes
74              remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
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76       -s, --symbolic-link
77              make symbolic links instead of copying
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79       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
80              override the usual backup suffix
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82       -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
83              copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
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85       -T, --no-target-directory
86              treat DEST as a normal file
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88       -u, --update
89              copy only when the SOURCE file is  newer  than  the  destination
90              file or when the destination file is missing
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92       -v, --verbose
93              explain what is being done
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95       -x, --one-file-system
96              stay on this file system
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98       --help display this help and exit
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100       -Z, --context=CONTEXT
101              set security context of copy to CONTEXT
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103       --version
104              output version information and exit
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106       By  default,  sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude heuristic and
107       the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well.  That is the behav‐
108       ior  selected  by  --sparse=auto.   Specify --sparse=always to create a
109       sparse DEST file whenever  the  SOURCE  file  contains  a  long  enough
110       sequence  of  zero  bytes.   Use  --sparse=never to inhibit creation of
111       sparse files.
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113       The  backup  suffix  is  `~',  unless  set  with   --suffix   or   SIM‐
114       PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.   The version control method may be selected via the
115       --backup option or through the  VERSION_CONTROL  environment  variable.
116       Here are the values:
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118       none, off
119              never make backups (even if --backup is given)
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121       numbered, t
122              make numbered backups
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124       existing, nil
125              numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
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127       simple, never
128              always make simple backups
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130       As  a  special  case,  cp  makes  a backup of SOURCE when the force and
131       backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name  for  an
132       existing, regular file.
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AUTHOR

135       Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.
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REPORTING BUGS

138       Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.
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141       Copyright © 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
142       This  is  free  software.   You may redistribute copies of it under the
143       terms      of      the      GNU      General       Public       License
144       <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.   There  is NO WARRANTY, to the
145       extent permitted by law.
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SEE ALSO

148       The full documentation for cp is maintained as a  Texinfo  manual.   If
149       the  info and cp programs are properly installed at your site, the com‐
150       mand
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152              info cp
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154       should give you access to the complete manual.
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158GNU coreutils 6.9                 March 2007                             CP(1)
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