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copy all files in dir to anotherdir

[ cp -r dir/* anotherdir ]

copy all directories and subdirectories and files in the foo directory to the foos_backup directory in which you create the directory backup_one which will contain all that is in the foo directory:
[ cp -r foo foos_backup/backup_one ]
to copy filenames with spaces use quotes around them like this: "file name with spaces.txt"

copy the contents of a file to a new file (in the same directory) with a different name and leave the original intact:
[ cp original_file new_file ]

copy a directory, its name, and its subdirectories and associated files to another existing directory:
[ cp -r first_directory/* second_directory ]

This is the manual page:

CP(1)                            User Commands                           CP(1)



NAME
       cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
       cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
       cp [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION
       Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

       Mandatory  arguments  to  long  options are mandatory for short options
       too.

       -a, --archive
              same as -dpR

       --backup[=CONTROL]
              make a backup of each existing destination file

       -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument

       --copy-contents
              copy contents of special files when recursive

       -d     same as --no-dereference --preserve=link

       --no-dereference
              never follow symbolic links

       -f, --force
              if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it  and
              try again

       -i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

       -H     follow command-line symbolic links

       -l, --link
              link files instead of copying

       -L, --dereference
              always follow symbolic links

       -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps

       --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
              preserve   the   specified   attributes   (default:  mode,owner-
              ship,timestamps) and security contexts, if  possible  additional
              attributes: links, all

       --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
              don't preserve the specified attributes

       --parents
              append source path to DIRECTORY

       -P     same as '--no-dereference'

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

       --remove-destination
              remove  each existing destination file before attempting to open
              it (contrast with --force)

       --reply={yes,no,query}
              specify how to handle the prompt about an  existing  destination
              file

       --sparse=WHEN
              control creation of sparse files

       --strip-trailing-slashes remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE
              argument

       -s, --symbolic-link
              make symbolic links instead of copying

       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
              override the usual backup suffix

       --target-directory=DIRECTORY
              move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

       -u, --update
              copy  only  when  the  SOURCE file is newer than the destination
              file or when the destination file is missing

       -v, --verbose
              explain what is being done

       -x, --one-file-system
              stay on this file system

       --help display this help and exit

       -Z, --context=CONTEXT
              set security context of copy to CONTEXT

       --version
              output version information and exit

       By default, sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude  heuristic  and
       the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well.  That is the behav-
       ior selected by --sparse=auto.  Specify  --sparse=always  to  create  a
       sparse  DEST  file  whenever  the  SOURCE  file  contains a long enough
       sequence of zero bytes.  Use  --sparse=never  to  inhibit  creation  of
       sparse files.

       The   backup   suffix   is  '~',  unless  set  with  --suffix  or  SIM-
       PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.  The version control method may be selected via  the
       --backup  option  or  through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable.
       Here are the values:

       none, off
              never make backups (even if --backup is given)

       numbered, t
              make numbered backups

       existing, nil
              numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

       simple, never
              always make simple backups

       As a special case, cp makes a backup  of  SOURCE  when  the  force  and
       backup  options  are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name for an
       existing, regular file.

AUTHOR
       Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright © 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is
       NO  warranty;  not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
       PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
       The full documentation for cp is maintained as a  Texinfo  manual.   If
       the  info and cp programs are properly installed at your site, the com-
       mand

              info coreutils cp

       should give you access to the complete manual.



cp (coreutils) 5.2.1              March 2004                             CP(1)
end manual page.


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