CP(1)									FSF								     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,ownership,timestamps), 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

       --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 SIMPLE_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 <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2002 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 cp

       should give you access to the complete manual.

cp (coreutils) 4.5.3						   February 2003							     CP(1)