my command is the following:

cp -LRuvp --reply=yes /mnt/filename /mnt/usbdrive/filename 2>/mnt/usbdrive/error.log

i get "the reply option is deprecated try using i or f instead"

the problem with the above is the only thing i get in my error log is: "the reply option is deprecated try using i or f instead"
and if i use "i , f , /cp , etc..." nothing is generated in my log...

what i want to do is copy file from source with "LRuvp" to destination and appened out put to "error.log"

please help!
thanks
david

Not sure I 100% understand what the deal is with the --reply option, as I've never used it. However, by directing 2> to the log, you're only catching errors; you're neglecting to catch "non-errors".

try the following and see if it helps:
That should direct stderr into stdout, and then stdout into the logfile.

Sasha

EDIT Since you mentioned you want to APPEND the output, I changed the > to >>

the reply option is because i am using -u so it asks me if i want to overwrite a existing file, i need --reply=yes as this issue is part of a shell backup script loaded into cron to run @ 8pm every night. i cant hit enter every time it prompts me to overwrite the file...

with this first cp command i want to create the error log >/mnt/usbdrive/error.log and with the next commands in script i append there output to the same file>>/mnt/usbdrive/error.log

when i try cp -LRuvp --reply=yes /mnt/filename /mnt/usbdrive/filename >> /mnt/usbdrive/error.log 2>&1 OR cp -LRuvp --reply=yes /mnt/filename /mnt/usbdrive/filename > /mnt/usbdrive/error.log 2>&1

I still get the reply option is deprecated as the only output in my logfile

thanks....

Hmm.. OK, have you tried my example, with the redirects as I showed, AND used the -i option instead of the --reply=yes option as it implies you should?

Seems logical that that should work. I've made lots of similar scripts and have had no trouble getting the output to go to the log file.

Is the cp command aborting when it finds the --reply option? Or maybe, is there actually stuff to copy? If there's not (because maybe everything's already up-to-date) then that's why no output is being generated: there's nothing to copy.

if i try how you suggest, in my error log i get the "cp: overwrite /mnt/file/***** ?'

this is why i need to have reply=yes in my command, however having the reply=yes, i only get "the reply option is deprecated" which brings me back to my dilema.....

thanks

OK, my apology if I'm missing something and making this harder than it should be

So.. I assume you are using the --reply=yes option so you don't have to press ENTER all the time. If that's the case, use the -f option instead. You won't be asked about every file, and the -u option will copy only files that have changed.

Options I would use typically for such an application, are -Rfuvp (and you add the -L option as you wish).

Sasha

lol no problem just trying to solve this issue has been racking my brain for a while.....
i have tried "i" and "f" as you suggest but with both options it still prompts to overwrite in my error log....

david

Weird, I don't get it ..

Without the -i option, and without the --reply option, but WITH the -f option, it should not be asking you *anything* -- it should just DO it..

Something's amiss, and I'm afraid I don't see it. I'll update again (or someone else will) if I/they can see what's wrong here.

Sasha

thats is correct, doing it exactly as u say above without "i" or "reply=yes" it prompts me for the overwrite in my error log and wont move forward...
please let me know when you find out something, much appreciated....
david

OK, and just for absolute clarity, you ARE using the -f option, yes?

correct the command is now:

cp -LRuvpf /mnt/filename /mnt/usbdrive/filename >> /mnt/usbdrive/error.log 2>&1

then i check my error log...

it says "cp: overwrite /mnt/usbdrive/filename.file ?"

however when i hit ctrl-z to stop the command i see "cp -i -LRuvpf" and i never put in the "i"
i cant get it to not insert the "i" im not sure why its being automatically inserted, and the reason i can tell its there is when i hit ctrl-z it shows "cp -i -LRuvpf" instead of "cp -LRuvpf" -how i typed it

think i was able to solve the issue using this instead

That's cool! Nice. But I *still* don't understand WHY it's asking you anything at all ..... Odd. I hope someone sheds light on this!

Sasha

i have seen around on the www that this is a bug with coreutils

Maybe cp is aliased to 'cp -i' (I remember in old unix machines this was a default or just an habit of system administrators - I don't know exactly). Davide, the command
should tell you if cp is actually aliased.