copy(5)

                                    copy(1)
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   copy -- copy groups of files 

Synopsis

   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. In addition, the super-user may set the user and group ID.
   The owner and mode are not changed if the destination file exists.
   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.

  Command options

   All of the options must be given as separate arguments, and they may
   appear in any order even after the other arguments.
   -a
          Asks the user before attempting a copy. If the response does
          not begin with a y, then a copy is not done. This option also
          sets the ad option.
   -l
          Uses links instead whenever they can be used. Otherwise a copy
          is done. Note that links are never done for special files or
          directories.
   -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. For special files an -n flag is
          assumed (that is, the destination of a special file must not
          exist).
   -o
          If set then every file copied has its owner and group set to
          those of source. If not set, then the file's owner is the user
          who invoked the program.
   -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.
   -r
          If set, then every directory is recursively examined as it is
          encountered. If not set, then any directories that are found
          are ignored.
   -ad
          Asks the user whether an -r flag applies when a directory is
          discovered. If the answer does not begin with a y, then the
          directory is ignored.
   -v
          If the verbose option is set, messages are printed that reveal
          what the program is doing.
   source
          This may be a file, directory or special file. It must exist.
          If it is not a directory, then the results of the command are
          the same as for the cp command.
   dest
          The destination must be either a file or directory that is
          different from the source. If source and destination are
          anything but directories, then copy acts just like a cp
          command. If both are directories, then copy copies each file
          into the destination directory according to the flags that have
          been set.

Notices

   Special device files can be copied. When they are copied, any data
   associated with the specified device is not copied.
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   © 2004 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
   UnixWare 7 Release 7.1.4 - 25 April 2004
   
See also copy(3C++)