cp help

rtaft · 12-17-2003, 01:38 PM

I'm trying to copy a directory recursively, to a location that may have some of the files already there. I want it to ignore the files that already exist. If I just use cp -R, I will have to manually type 'n' for each duplicate file, which I cannot do. If I use cp -Rf, it overwrites the ones already there. If I use cp -Ru, it overwrites the files that have an older date than the one being copied. Isn't there a simple "if it exists, don't copy"? IS there a script out there tha will provide me with this functionality?

druuna · 12-17-2003, 01:42 PM

Try using cp's --reply={yes,no,query} option.

PS: You don't mention the -i option. This must be aliased in some way, otherwise cp would overwrite the destination file without asking you.

cp -iR --reply=no <foo> <bar> would be the correct use if you want to make sure that destination files that excist are not overwritten.

cp -R --reply=no <foo> <bar> doesn't make too much sense, there will be no questions asked excisting files will be overwritten.

rtaft · 12-17-2003, 01:48 PM

thanks, that works great