NAME

cp, ln, mv − copy, link or move files

SYNOPSIS

cp file1 [ file2 ...] target
ln file1 [ file2 ...] target
mv file1 [ file2 ...] target

DESCRIPTION

File1 is copied (linked, moved) to target. Under no circumstance can file1 and target be the same.  If target is a directory, then one or more files are copied (linked, moved) to that directory. 

If mv determines that the mode of target forbids writing, it will print the mode (see chmod(2)) and read the standard input for one line (if the standard input is a terminal); if the line begins with y, the move takes place; if not, mv exits. 

Only mv will allow file1 to be a directory, in which case the directory rename will occur only if the two directories have the same parent. 

SEE ALSO

cpio(1), link(1M), rm(1), chmod(2). 

BUGS

If file1 and target lie on different file systems, mv must copy the file and delete the original.  In this case the owner name becomes that of the copying process and any linking relationship with other files is lost. 

Ln will not link across file systems. 

May 16, 1980