CP(1)				User Commands				CP(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,owner-
	      ship,timestamps) and security contexts, 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

       -Z, --context=CONTEXT
	      set security context of copy to CONTEXT

       --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	 SIM-
       PLE_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 .

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software; see the source for copying  conditions.	There
       is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICU-
       LAR 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 com-
       mand

	      info coreutils cp

       should give you access to the complete manual.



cp (coreutils) 5.2.1		  March 2004				CP(1)

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