cp(1) - f38

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 -dR --preserve=all
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22       --attributes-only
23              don't copy the file data, just the attributes
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25       --backup[=CONTROL]
26              make a backup of each existing destination file
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28       -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument
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30       --copy-contents
31              copy contents of special files when recursive
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33       -d     same as --no-dereference --preserve=links
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35       -f, --force
36              if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it  and
37              try  again  (this  option  is ignored when the -n option is also
38              used)
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40       -i, --interactive
41              prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)
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43       -H     follow command-line symbolic links in SOURCE
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45       -l, --link
46              hard link files instead of copying
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48       -L, --dereference
49              always follow symbolic links in SOURCE
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51       -n, --no-clobber
52              do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous  -i  op‐
53              tion)
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55       -P, --no-dereference
56              never follow symbolic links in SOURCE
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58       -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
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60       --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
61              preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,time‐
62              stamps), if  possible  additional  attributes:  context,  links,
63              xattr, all
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65       --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
66              don't preserve the specified attributes
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68       --parents
69              use full source file name under DIRECTORY
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71       -R, -r, --recursive
72              copy directories recursively
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74       --reflink[=WHEN]
75              control clone/CoW copies. See below
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77       --remove-destination
78              remove  each existing destination file before attempting to open
79              it (contrast with --force)
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81       --sparse=WHEN
82              control creation of sparse files. See below
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84       --strip-trailing-slashes
85              remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
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87       -s, --symbolic-link
88              make symbolic links instead of copying
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90       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
91              override the usual backup suffix
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93       -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
94              copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
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96       -T, --no-target-directory
97              treat DEST as a normal file
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99       -u, --update
100              copy only when the SOURCE file is  newer  than  the  destination
101              file or when the destination file is missing
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103       -v, --verbose
104              explain what is being done
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106       -x, --one-file-system
107              stay on this file system
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109       -Z     set SELinux security context of destination file to default type
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111       --context[=CTX]
112              like  -Z,  or  if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK
113              security context to CTX
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115       --help display this help and exit
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117       --version
118              output version information and exit
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120       By default, sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude  heuristic  and
121       the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well.  That is the behav‐
122       ior selected by --sparse=auto.  Specify  --sparse=always  to  create  a
123       sparse  DEST  file  whenever the SOURCE file contains a long enough se‐
124       quence of zero bytes.  Use --sparse=never to inhibit creation of sparse
125       files.
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127       When --reflink[=always] is specified, perform a lightweight copy, where
128       the data blocks are copied only when modified.  If this is not possible
129       the copy fails, or if --reflink=auto is specified, fall back to a stan‐
130       dard copy.  Use --reflink=never to ensure a standard copy is performed.
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132       The  backup  suffix  is  '~',  unless  set  with   --suffix   or   SIM‐
133       PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.   The version control method may be selected via the
134       --backup option or through the  VERSION_CONTROL  environment  variable.
135       Here are the values:
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137       none, off
138              never make backups (even if --backup is given)
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140       numbered, t
141              make numbered backups
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143       existing, nil
144              numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
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146       simple, never
147              always make simple backups
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149       As  a  special  case,  cp  makes  a backup of SOURCE when the force and
150       backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name  for  an
151       existing, regular file.
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AUTHOR

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

157       GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
158       Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
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COPYRIGHT

161       Copyright  ©  2022  Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU
162       GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
163       This is free software: you are free  to  change  and  redistribute  it.
164       There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
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NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

AUTHOR

REPORTING BUGS

COPYRIGHT

SEE ALSO