# cp(1)

## NAME

         cp, cpdir - file copy

## SYNOPSIS

         cp [-pifsmrRvx] file1 file2
         cp [-pifsrRvx] file ... directory
         cpdir [-ifvx] file1 file2

## OPTIONS

         -p   Preserve full mode, uid, gid and times

         -i   Ask before removing existing file

         -f   Forced remove existing file

         -s   Make similar, copy some attributes

         -m   Merge trees, disable the into-a-directory trick

         -r   Copy directory trees with link structure, etc. intact

         -R   Copy directory trees and treat special files as ordinary

         -v   Display what cp is doing

         -x   Do not cross device boundaries

## EXAMPLES

         cp oldfile newfile  # Copy oldfile to newfile

         cp -R dir1 dir2     # Copy a directory tree

## DESCRIPTION

         Cp copies one file  to  another,  or  copies  one  or  more  files  to  a
         directory.   Special  files  are  normally  opened and read, unless -r is
         used.  -r also copies the  link  structure,  something  -R  doesn't  care
         about.   The  -s  option differs from -p that it only copies the times if
         the target file already exists.  A normal copy only copies  the  mode  of
         the  file, with the file creation mask applied.  Set-uid bits are cleared
         if the owner cannot be set.  (The -s  flag  does  not  patronize  you  by
         clearing bits.  Alas -s and -r are nonstandard.)

         Cpdir is a convenient synonym for cp -psmr to make a precise  copy  of  a
         directory tree.

## SEE ALSO

         cat(1), mkdir(1), rmdir(1), ln(1), rm(1).