cp how to copy hidden files and copy recusively without over writing

ballsystemlord · 05-20-2015, 10:51 AM

Yes, I know, how hard can cp be?
I wanted to copy some of my hidden files from my home dir (backup reasons) so I issued the command:

Code:

cp ~/.* /dest/dir/

but it did not copy the files I wanted.
Again, I wanted to copy recusively with out overwriting the files so I issued the command:

Code:

cp -nr dir dest

The only problem is that though it does do the copy recusively with out over writing it misses many files because if dest containes

Code:

ls -R dir
drwx------  foo
-rw-------  bar

/foo:
baz

then cp will not write baz2 into foo (assuming baz2 is in dir). Dolphin has an option called write into all, but cp does not, as far as I can tell.
I could, of course, create an awk script that uses find and mkdir -p etc and copies all of them, but that is rather slow (I have done it).
I'm using bash version 4.2.53 on gentoo linux. coreutils version 8.21.

Thanks

business_kid · 05-20-2015, 01:27 PM

Have you tried 'cp -an'?

-a is a cumulative option for a lot of handy things.

273 · 05-20-2015, 01:32 PM

Might be overkill but what about rsync?

ballsystemlord · 05-25-2015, 11:36 AM

rsync is a little over kill.
As for -a it does not include what I was describing.
Perhaps I should ask the author of moreutils if such an app could be invented.

fatmac · 05-25-2015, 01:50 PM

I usually just use cp -a, (which is equal to cp -dpR I believe).

As an example :-

Code:

 cp -a /home/* <somewhere>

copies everything under /home to <somewhere>

Edit: Can't remember if it copies . files, but if not, also use

Code:

cp -a /home/*/.* <somewhereelse>

should get everything copied.

ballsystemlord · 05-25-2015, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

I usually just use cp -a, (which is equal to cp -dpR I believe).

As an example :-

Code:

 cp -a /home/* <somewhere>

copies everything under /home to <somewhere>

Edit: Can't remember if it copies . files, but if not, also use

Code:

cp -a /home/*/.* <somewhereelse>

should get everything copied.

I just wanted to copy the hidden files so 1 will not help.
2 does work! Hmm, maybe my problem was something else when doing cp.

This first problwm may be considered solved until I find
something else in the way of evidence.