mv(1)                                                       mv(1)



NAME
     mv - moves or renames files

SYNOPSIS
     mv [-i] [-f] [-] file1 file2

     mv [-i] [-f] [-] file... directory

ARGUMENTS
     -    Interprets all the following arguments to mv as
          filenames.  This allows filenames starting with minus.

     directory
          Specifies the directory into which the files will be
          placed.

     -f   Causes mv to use force.  This flag option overrides any
          mode restrictions or the -i option.

     file Specifies the file that will be moved into the
          directory (directory).

     file1
          Specifies the file that is to be renamed.

     file2
          Specifies the file that file1 was renamed to.

     -i   Specifies interactive mode.  Whenever a move is to
          supercede an existing file, the user is prompted by the
          name of the file followed by a question mark.  If he
          answers with a line starting with y, the move
          continues.  Any other reply prevents the move from
          occurring.  The -f option overrides this option.

DESCRIPTION
     mv moves (changes the name of) one file (file1) to another
     file RI ( file2 ).  If file2 already exists, it is removed
     before file1 is moved.  If file2 has a mode which forbids
     writing, mv prints the mode (see chmod(2)) and reads the
     standard input to obtain a line; if the line begins with y,
     the move takes place; if not, mv exits.

     The mv command can also move one or more files (file), which
     can be plain files or directories, into a directory
     (directory) with their original filenames.

     The mv command refuses to move a file onto itself.

LIMITATIONS
     If file1 and file2 lie on different file systems, mv must
     copy the file and delete the original.  In this case the



January 1992                                                    1

mv(1)                                                       mv(1)



     owner name becomes that of the copying process and any
     linking relationship with other files is lost.

FILES
     /bin/mv
          Executable file

SEE ALSO
     cp(1), ln(1)














































2                                                    January 1992