copy(C)
copy --
copy groups of files
Syntax
copy [ option ]
...
source
...
dest
Description
The copy command copies the contents of directories to another
directory. It is possible to copy whole file systems since directories
are made when needed.
If files, directories, or special files do not exist at the destination,
then they are created with the same modes and flags as the source.
Note that there may be more than one source directory.
If so, the effect is the same as if the copy
command had been issued for each source directory
with the same destination directory for each copy.
Options do not have to be given as separate arguments,
and may appear in any order, even after the other arguments.
The options are:
-a-
Asks the user before attempting a copy. If the response does not
begin with a ``y'', then a copy is not done. When used together
with the -v option, it overrides the verbose option
so that messages regarding the copy action are not displayed.
-ad-
Asks the user whether a -r flag applies when a directory
is discovered. If the answer does not begin with a ``y'', then the
directory is ignored.
-l-
Uses hard links instead whenever they can be used. Otherwise a copy is made.
If the destination file already exists (of the same type as,
but not identical to the source file),
it is unlinked before copying.
Note that hard links are never made for directories.
-m-
If set, then every file copied has its modification time and access time
set to that of the source. If not set, then the modification time
is set to the time of the copy.
-n-
Requires the destination file to be new. If not, then the
copy command does not change the destination file.
The -n flag is meaningless for directories.
-o-
If set, then every file copied has its owner and group set to
those of the source.
If not set, then an existing file's owner is unchanged,
and a new file's owner is
the user who invoked the program.
-r-
If set, then every directory is recursively examined as it is encountered.
If not set then any directories that are found are ignored.
-s-
Uses symbolic links
whenever they can be used.
Otherwise a copy is made.
If the destination file already exists (of the same type as,
but not identical to the source file),
it is unlinked before copying.
Note that symbolic links are never made for directories.
-v-
Messages are printed that reveal what the program is doing.
If used with the -a option, the -a option is given
priority so that it overrides the verbose option, and the
copy action message is not displayed.
Arguments to copy are:
source-
This may be a file, directory or special file. It must exist.
dest-
If the destination is an existing
directory, source files are copied into it.
If the destination is an existing file,
it must be of the same type (regular or special file)
as the source file.
If the destination does not exist, it is created as
a directory if the source is a directory, or if there are multiple
source files.
Otherwise destination is created as a
file of the same type as the source file.
Examples
This command line verbosely copies all files in the current directory
to /tmp/food:
copy -v . /tmp/food
The next command line copies all files, except for those that
begin with a dot(.), and copies the immediate contents of
any child directories:
copy /tmp/logic
This command is the same as the previous one, except that
it recursively examines all subdirectories, and it sets
group and ownership permissions on the destination files
to be the same as the source files:
copy -ro /tmp/logic
Limitations
Special device files can be copied or linked.
No data associated with the device is copied.
A device node is created identical to the source device node,
or a link is made to the source device node
(if the -l or -s options are specified).
Only the superuser can create device nodes.
The -m and -o options have no effect on
created hard or symbolic links when the options
-l or -s are also specified.
This is because a hard link references the same inode as the source file;
the ownership and time stamp stored in an inode are not
changed when a hard link to it is created. The ownership and time stamp of
a symbolic link cannot be changed; attempting to do this would
cause the link to be followed and the change would be attempted
on the linked file.
Standards conformance
copy is not part of any currently supported standard; it
is an extension of AT&T System V provided by the Santa
Cruz Operation.
© 2005 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 6.0.0 -- 03 June 2005