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How does cp -a work

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2

I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as

cp -a ../somedir/. 

It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?

I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.

files copy

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

New contributor

NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
  
  – Henrique
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
  
  – rm-vanda
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as

cp -a ../somedir/. 

It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?

I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.

files copy

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

New contributor

NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you are missing a blank space between somedir and the last dot. See vidarlo 's answer, it is correct. Upvote it! Accept it!
  
  – Henrique
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also something I wish I had known a whole lot earlier when learning Linux & bash is that you can press tab to get autocomplete; press it twice for suggestions.
  
  – rm-vanda
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I am trying to understand linux and working through some tutorials. One states that I can copy files to the current directory by using a cp -a command with a relative pathname such as

cp -a ../somedir/. 

It fails each time I run it. Is the syntax incorrect?

I tried the man page, but it didn't seem to find anything that answers my question.

files copy

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

New contributor

NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

cp -a ../somedir/. 

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

New contributor

NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

New contributor

NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

edited 2 hours ago

zx485

1,47131315

asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

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NodeNewb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 3 hours ago

NodeNewbNodeNewb

111

2 Answers
2

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5

cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is

cp source target

You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run

cp ../somedir .

Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)
  
  – WinEunuuchs2Unix
  9 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

You can say:

cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content

Or you can say

cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.

the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location

share|improve this answer

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

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5

cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is

cp source target

You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run

cp ../somedir .

Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)
  
  – WinEunuuchs2Unix
  9 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is

cp source target

You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run

cp ../somedir .

Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)
  
  – WinEunuuchs2Unix
  9 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

cp -a ../somedir/. is wrong. The general syntax is

cp source target

You only specified one argument. To copy something to current directory, you can run

cp ../somedir .

Note the space before the dot. . is shorthand for current directory. .. is shorthand for parent directory.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

cp source target

cp ../somedir .

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

answered 2 hours ago

vidarlovidarlo

10.7k52852

0

You can say:

cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content

Or you can say

cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.

the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location

share|improve this answer

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

New contributor

sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

0

You can say:

cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content

Or you can say

cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.

the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location

share|improve this answer

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

New contributor

sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

You can say:

cp -a ../somedir .
if you want to copy the folder it self with its content

Or you can say

cp -a ../somedir/* .
If you want to copy the content of the folder.

the -a option will try to clone the same file structure with the same file tree to the new location

share|improve this answer

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

New contributor

sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

New contributor

sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11

New contributor

sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 27 mins ago

sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

11