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32 .\" @(#)cp.1 8.3 (Berkeley) 4/18/94
33 .\" $FreeBSD: src/bin/cp/cp.1,v 1.33 2005/02/25 00:40:46 trhodes Exp $
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, remove it and
79 create a new file, without prompting for confirmation
80 regardless of its permissions.
83 option overrides any previous
87 The target file is not unlinked before the copy.
88 Thus, any existing access rights will be retained.
92 option is specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed.
93 (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
97 to write a prompt to the standard error output before copying a file
98 that would overwrite an existing file.
99 If the response from the standard input begins with the character
103 the file copy is attempted.
106 option overrides any previous
112 option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
114 Do not overwrite an existing file.
117 option overrides any previous
125 option is specified, no symbolic links are followed.
130 to preserve the following attributes of each source
131 file in the copy: modification time, access time,
132 file flags, file mode, user ID, and group ID, as allowed by permissions.
133 Access Control Lists (ACLs) will also be preserved.
135 If the user ID and group ID cannot be preserved, no error message
136 is displayed and the exit value is not altered.
138 If the source file has its set-user-ID bit on and the user ID cannot
139 be preserved, the set-user-ID bit is not preserved
140 in the copy's permissions.
141 If the source file has its set-group-ID bit on and the group ID cannot
142 be preserved, the set-group-ID bit is not preserved
143 in the copy's permissions.
144 If the source file has both its set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits on,
145 and either the user ID or group ID cannot be preserved, neither
146 the set-user-ID nor set-group-ID bits are preserved in the copy's
151 designates a directory,
153 copies the directory and the entire subtree connected at that point.
158 the contents of the directory are copied rather than the
160 This option also causes symbolic links to be copied, rather than
161 indirected through, and for
163 to create special files rather than copying them as normal files.
164 Created directories have the same mode as the corresponding source
165 directory, unmodified by the process' umask.
171 will continue copying even if errors are detected.
175 copies hard-linked files as separate files.
176 If you need to preserve hard links, consider using
185 to be verbose, showing files as they are copied.
187 Do not copy Extended Attributes (EAs) or resource forks.
190 For each destination file that already exists, its contents are
191 overwritten if permissions allow.
192 Its mode, user ID, and group
193 ID are unchanged unless the
195 option was specified.
197 In the second synopsis form,
199 must exist unless there is only one named
201 which is a directory and the
205 If the destination file does not exist, the mode of the source file is
206 used as modified by the file mode creation mask
210 If the source file has its set-user-ID bit on, that bit is removed
211 unless both the source file and the destination file are owned by the
213 If the source file has its set-group-ID bit on, that bit is removed
214 unless both the source file and the destination file are in the same
215 group and the user is a member of that group.
216 If both the set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits are set, all of the above
217 conditions must be fulfilled or both bits are removed.
219 Appropriate permissions are required for file creation or overwriting.
221 Symbolic links are always followed unless the
223 flag is set, in which case symbolic links are not followed, by default.
228 flags (in conjunction with the
230 flag) cause symbolic links to be followed as described above.
236 options are ignored unless the
239 In addition, these options override each other and the
240 command's actions are determined by the last one specified.
250 signal, the current input and output file and the percentage complete
251 will be written to the standard output.
255 Historic versions of the
260 This implementation supports that option;
261 however, its use is strongly discouraged,
262 as it does not correctly copy special files, symbolic links, or fifo's.
268 options are non-standard and their use in scripts is not recommended.
269 .Sh LEGACY DESCRIPTION
276 option, the target file is always unlinked before the copy.
277 Thus, new access rights will always be set.
281 mode, copying will terminate if an error is encountered.
292 command is expected to be