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33 .\" @(#)cp.1 8.3 (Berkeley) 4/18/94
45 .Op Fl H | Fl L | Fl P
49 .Ar source_file target_file
53 .Op Fl H | Fl L | Fl P
57 .Ar source_file ... target_directory
59 In the first synopsis form, the
61 utility copies the contents of the
65 In the second synopsis form,
66 the contents of each named
68 is copied to the destination
69 .Ar target_directory .
70 The names of the files themselves are not changed.
73 detects an attempt to copy a file to itself, the copy will fail.
75 The following options are available:
78 For each existing destination pathname, attempt to overwrite it.
79 If permissions do not allow copy to succeed, remove it and create a new
80 file, without prompting for confirmation.
83 option is ignored if the
89 option is specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed.
90 (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
94 to write a prompt to the standard error output before copying a file
95 that would overwrite an existing file.
96 If the response from the standard input begins with the character
98 the file copy is attempted.
102 option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
106 don't copy file flags.
108 No symbolic links are followed.
112 to preserve in the copy as many of the modification time, access time,
113 file flags, file mode, user ID, and group ID as allowed by permissions.
115 If the user ID and group ID cannot be preserved, no error message
116 is displayed and the exit value is not altered.
118 If the source file has its set user ID bit on and the user ID cannot
119 be preserved, the set user ID bit is not preserved
120 in the copy's permissions.
121 If the source file has its set group ID bit on and the group ID cannot
122 be preserved, the set group ID bit is not preserved
123 in the copy's permissions.
124 If the source file has both its set user ID and set group ID bits on,
125 and either the user ID or group ID cannot be preserved, neither
126 the set user ID or set group ID bits are preserved in the copy's
131 designates a directory,
133 copies the directory and the entire subtree connected at that point.
134 This option also causes symbolic links to be copied, rather than
135 indirected through, and for
137 to create special files rather than copying them as normal files.
138 Created directories have the same mode as the corresponding source
139 directory, unmodified by the process's umask.
143 to be verbose, showing files as they are copied.
146 For each destination file that already exists, its contents are
147 overwritten if permissions allow, but its mode, user ID, and group
150 In the second synopsis form,
152 must exist unless there is only one named
154 which is a directory and the
158 If the destination file does not exist, the mode of the source file is
159 used as modified by the file mode creation mask
163 If the source file has its set user ID bit on, that bit is removed
164 unless both the source file and the destination file are owned by the
166 If the source file has its set group ID bit on, that bit is removed
167 unless both the source file and the destination file are in the same
168 group and the user is a member of that group.
169 If both the set user ID and set group ID bits are set, all of the above
170 conditions must be fulfilled or both bits are removed.
172 Appropriate permissions are required for file creation or overwriting.
174 Symbolic links are always followed unless the
176 flag is set, in which case symbolic links are not followed, by default.
181 flags (in conjunction with the
183 flag), as well as the
185 flag cause symbolic links to be followed as described above.
190 options are ignored unless the
193 In addition, these options override each other and the
194 command's actions are determined by the last one specified.
198 Historic versions of the
203 This implementation supports that option, however, its use is strongly
204 discouraged, as it does not correctly copy special files, symbolic links
215 utility is expected to be
221 option is an extension to