CP(1)                          FSF                          CP(1)

NAME
       cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY

DESCRIPTION
       Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

       -a, --archive
              same as -dpR

       -b, --backup
              make backup before removal

       -d, --no-dereference
              preserve links

       -f, --force
              remove existing destinations, never prompt

       -i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

       -l, --link
              link files instead of copying

       -p, --preserve
              preserve file attributes if possible

       -P, --parents
              append source path to DIRECTORY

       -r     copy recursively, non-directories as files

       --sparse=WHEN
              control creation of sparse files

       -R, --recursive
              copy directories recursively

       -s, --symbolic-link
              make symbolic links instead of copying

       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
              override the usual backup suffix

       -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

       -V, --version-control=WORD
              override the usual version control

       -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 SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUF-
       FIX.  The version control may be set with VERSION_CONTROL,
       values are:

       t, numbered
              make numbered backups

       nil, existing
              numbered  if  numbered backups exist, simple other-
              wise

       never, simple
              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.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.

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.

GNU fileutils 4.0         November 1998                         1