Where is the difference between this commnads

[gladiator6]

Before I use
cp -R * /where want to place/ but I can't find how to use it with (pick all yes) when copy files that already exist.

I find this cp -pr and this overwrite my files

Just my question is: Can You tell me where is the difference between recursively copy files and just copy files (speed) or ?

Thank You

[Miven]

cp -R or cp -r recurses through directories. It dives into the subdirs and copies everything in the entire tree branch.

cp -p preserves the datestamps and stuff so the copied files have the same stamps as the originals. I use that all the time.

cp _DOES_NOT_ overwrite files by default unless you use the -f switch. It will ask you everytime.

cp -f will copy and overwrite anything without asking. It's a bit dangerous, so use it with much caution.

Maybe you have an alias 'cp=cp -f'. Try typing 'alias' and see if you have:

alias cp='cp -f'

in there. If so, remove it, pronto. Check in ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile, ~/.profile, that kind of thing. Find out where it's been set.

Also, try 'man cp'. The manual pages are your friends.

[gladiator6]

Thank You and for what is -r then


cp -f back me : cp: omitting directory


cp -pr -f ask me

what to use to work Thank YOu

[atreyu]

for what is -r then

From the cp man page:

       -R, -r, --recursive
              copy directories recursively

cp -f back me : cp: omitting directory

is "back" a dir? If so, you need "-r" or equivalent.

cp -pr -f ask me

On your system, it may be that cp is aliased to "cp -i". try this command to see:

alias cp

if it returns something like:

alias cp='cp -i'

then that is your problem.

you can always use the full path to the binary to avoid the use of an alias, e.g.:

/bin/cp -f foo bar