CP(1)				 User Commands				 CP(1)



NAME
       cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS
       cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
       cp [OPTION]... -t 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

       -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, --no-dereference
	      never follow symbolic links

       -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps

       --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
	      preserve	 the   specified   attributes	(default:  mode,owner
	      ship,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: links, all

       -c     same as --preserve=context

       --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
	      dont preserve the specified attributes

       --parents
	      use full source file name under DIRECTORY

       -R, -r, --recursive
	      copy directories recursively

       --remove-destination
	      remove each existing destination file before attempting to  open
	      it (contrast with --force)

       --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

       -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
	      copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

       -T, --no-target-directory
	      treat DEST as a normal file

       -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

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

       --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 behav
       ior 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  2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software.  You may redistribute copies  of	it  under  the
       terms	   of	    the      GNU      General	   Public      License
       .	There is NO WARRANTY,  to  the
       extent permitted by law.

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 5.97 			 January 2007				 CP(1)