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,ownership,timestamps), if possible  additional
              attributes: links, all

       --attributes=regex
              preserve extended attributes whose name matches the
              specified regular expression (defaults to  preserv­
              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

       --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 when­
       ever 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
              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 © 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This  is  free software; see the source for copying condi­
       tions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY
       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 (coreutils) 4.5.8      February 2003                     CP(1)

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