CP(1L)                                                     CP(1L)


NNAAMMEE
       cp - copy files

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       ccpp [options] source dest
       ccpp [options] source... directory
       Options:
       [-abdfilprsuvxPR]    [-S    backup-suffix]    [-V    {num-
       bered,existing,simple}]   [--backup]    [--no-dereference]
       [--force] [--interactive] [--one-file-system] [--preserve]
       [--recursive]  [--update]  [--verbose]   [--suffix=backup-
       suffix]     [--version-control={numbered,existing,simple}]
       [--archive]   [--parents]    [--link]    [--symbolic-link]
       [--help] [--version]

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       This  manual page documents the GNU version of ccpp.  If the
       last argument names an existing directory, ccpp copies  each
       other  given  file  into a file with the same name in that
       directory.  Otherwise, if only two  files  are  given,  it
       copies  the  first onto the second.  It is an error if the
       last argument is not a directory and more than  two  files
       are given.  By default, it does not copy directories.

   OOPPTTIIOONNSS
       _-_a_, _-_-_a_r_c_h_i_v_e
              Preserve  as  much as possible of the structure and
              attributes of the original files in the copy.   The
              same as _-_d_p_R.

       _-_b_, _-_-_b_a_c_k_u_p
              Make  backups  of  files that are about to be over-
              written or removed.

       _-_d_, _-_-_n_o_-_d_e_r_e_f_e_r_e_n_c_e
              Copy symbolic links as symbolic links  rather  than
              copying  the files that they point to, and preserve
              hard link relationships between source files in the
              copies.

       _-_f_, _-_-_f_o_r_c_e
              Remove existing destination files.

       _-_i_, _-_-_i_n_t_e_r_a_c_t_i_v_e
              Prompt whether to overwrite existing regular desti-
              nation files.

       _-_l_, _-_-_l_i_n_k
              Make  hard  links  instead  of   copies   of   non-
              directories.

       _-_P_, _-_-_p_a_r_e_n_t_s
              Form the name of each destination file by appending
              to the target directory a slash and  the  specified



FSF                     GNU File Utilities                      1





CP(1L)                                                     CP(1L)


              name  of  the source file.  The last argument given
              to ccpp must be the name of  an  existing  directory.
              For example, the command `cp --parents a/b/c exist-
              ing_dir'  copies   the   file   _a_/_b_/_c   to   _e_x_i_s_t_-
              _i_n_g___d_i_r_/_a_/_b_/_c_,  creating  any  missing intermediate
              directories.

       _-_p_, _-_-_p_r_e_s_e_r_v_e
              Preserve the original files' owner, group,  permis-
              sions, and timestamps.

       _-_r     Copy  directories  recursively,  copying  all  non-
              directories as if they were regular files.

       _-_s_, _-_-_s_y_m_b_o_l_i_c_-_l_i_n_k
              Make symbolic  links  instead  of  copies  of  non-
              directories.  All source filenames must be absolute
              (starting with `/') unless  the  destination  files
              are in the current directory.  This option produces
              an error message on systems  that  do  not  support
              symbolic links.

       _-_u_, _-_-_u_p_d_a_t_e
              Do  not  copy  a  nondirectory that has an existing
              destination with the  same  or  newer  modification
              time.

       _-_v_, _-_-_v_e_r_b_o_s_e
              Print the name of each file before copying it.

       _-_x_, _-_-_o_n_e_-_f_i_l_e_-_s_y_s_t_e_m
              Skip  subdirectories that are on different filesys-
              tems from the one that the copy started on.

       _-_R_, _-_-_r_e_c_u_r_s_i_v_e
              Copy directories recursively.

       _-_-_h_e_l_p Print a usage message on standard output  and  exit
              successfully.

       _-_-_v_e_r_s_i_o_n
              Print  version  information on standard output then
              exit successfully.

       _-_S_, _-_-_s_u_f_f_i_x _b_a_c_k_u_p_-_s_u_f_f_i_x
              The suffix used for making simple backup files  can
              be  set  with  the SSIIMMPPLLEE__BBAACCKKUUPP__SSUUFFFFIIXX environment
              variable, which can be overridden by  this  option.
              If  neither  of those is given, the default is `~',
              as it is in Emacs.

       _-_V_, _-_-_v_e_r_s_i_o_n_-_c_o_n_t_r_o_l _{_n_u_m_b_e_r_e_d_,_e_x_i_s_t_i_n_g_,_s_i_m_p_l_e_}
              The type of backups made can be set with  the  VVEERR--
              SSIIOONN__CCOONNTTRROOLL  environment  variable,  which  can be



FSF                     GNU File Utilities                      2





CP(1L)                                                     CP(1L)


              overridden by this option.  If  VVEERRSSIIOONN__CCOONNTTRROOLL  is
              not  set  and this option is not given, the default
              backup type is `existing'.  The value of  the  VVEERR--
              SSIIOONN__CCOONNTTRROOLL  environment variable and the argument
              to this option are like  the  GNU  Emacs  `version-
              control'  variable;  they  also  recognize synonyms
              that are more descriptive.  The  valid  values  are
              (unique abbreviations are accepted):

              `t' or `numbered'
                     Always make numbered backups.

              `nil' or `existing'
                     Make  numbered backups of files that already
                     have them, simple backups of the others.

              `never' or `simple'
                     Always make simple backups.







































FSF                     GNU File Utilities                      3


.