cp

PURPOSE

     Copies files.

SYNOPSIS
     cp file1 [ file2 ... ] target


DESCRIPTION

     The cp (copy)  command copies a source file  or the files
     in a source directory to  a target file or directory.  If
     your output is to a  directory, then the files are copied
     to that directory with the same file name.

     You can also copy special device files.  If the file is a
     named pipe, the data in the pipe is copied into a regular
     file.  If  the file is a  device, the file is  read until
     the end  of file and that  data is copied into  a regular
     file.

     Notes:

     1.  Do not name outfile as one of the input files.

     2.  If  you  specify a  directory  for  the outfile,  the
         directory must already exist.

     3.  If the infile contains  subdirectories and the subdi-
         rectories do not exist, the system creates them.

FLAGS

     -p  Preserves  the modification  times and  modes of  the
         infile for the copy.
     -r  Copies each  subtree rooted at the  infile (recursive
         copy).   If  the  infile  is a  directory,  then  the
         outfile must be a directory.
     --  Indicates that the arguments  following this flag are
         to  be interpreted  as  file names.   This null  flag
         allows  the specification  of file  names that  start
         with a minus.

EXAMPLES

     1.  To make another copy of  a file in the current direc-
         tory:

           cp  prog.c  prog.bak

         This  copies "prog.c"  to  "prog.bak".   If the  file
         "prog.bak" does  not already  exist, then  cp creates

         it.  If  it does  exist, then cp  replaces it  with a
         copy of "prog.c".
     2.  To copy a file to another directory:

           cp  jones  /u/nick/clients

         This copies "jones" to "/u/nick/clients/jones".
     3.  To copy a file to a new file and preserve the modifi-
         cation date and time:

           cp -p smith smith.jr

         This copies  "smith" to "smith.jr".  Instead  of cre-
         ating the file with the  current date and time stamp,
         the system gives "smith.jr" the same date and time as
         "smith".
     4.  To copy all the files in  a directory to a new direc-
         tory:

           cp /u/nick/clients /u/nick/customers

         This copies  the files in the  directory "clients" to
         the directory "customers".
     5.  To copy  the files and subdirectories  in a directory
         to another directory:

           cp -r /u/nick/clients /u/nick/customers

         This copies  the files, subdirectories, and  files in
         the subdirectories rooted  at the directory "clients"
         to the directory "customers".
     6.  To copy a specific set of files to another directory:

           cp  jones lewis smith  /u/nick/clients

           This   copies  "jones,   lewis,"  and   "smith"  to
         "/u/nick/clients".
     7.  To use pattern-matching characters to copy files:

           cp  programs/*.c  .

         This copies  the files  in directory  "programs" that
         end with ".c" to the current directory (.).  You must
         type a space between the "c" and the final period.

RELATED INFORMATION

     The following commands:   "cpio,"  "link, unlink,"  "ln,"
     and "mv."