How does cp -a work





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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.










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  • 2





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

    – Henrique
    9 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
    8 hours ago


















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.










share|improve this question









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.
















  • 2





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

    – Henrique
    9 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
    8 hours ago














2












2








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.










share|improve this question









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.












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









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.











share|improve this question









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




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edited 9 hours ago









zx485

1,47131315




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asked 9 hours ago









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  • 2





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

    – Henrique
    9 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
    8 hours ago














  • 2





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

    – Henrique
    9 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
    8 hours ago








2




2





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

– Henrique
9 hours ago





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

– Henrique
9 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
8 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
8 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















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
























  • +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)

    – WinEunuuchs2Unix
    6 hours ago











  • -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

    – mckenzm
    3 hours ago



















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








New contributor




sh.alawneh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    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
























    • +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)

      – WinEunuuchs2Unix
      6 hours ago











    • -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

      – mckenzm
      3 hours ago
















    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
























    • +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)

      – WinEunuuchs2Unix
      6 hours ago











    • -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

      – mckenzm
      3 hours ago














    5












    5








    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













    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












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 9 hours ago









    vidarlovidarlo

    10.7k52852




    10.7k52852













    • +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)

      – WinEunuuchs2Unix
      6 hours ago











    • -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

      – mckenzm
      3 hours ago



















    • +1 but I would have added how -a maintains last access stamps or something like that :)

      – WinEunuuchs2Unix
      6 hours ago











    • -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

      – mckenzm
      3 hours ago

















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

    – WinEunuuchs2Unix
    6 hours ago





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

    – WinEunuuchs2Unix
    6 hours ago













    -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

    – mckenzm
    3 hours ago





    -a "preserves" everything and recurses. There is a man page for this.

    – mckenzm
    3 hours ago













    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








    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.

























      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








      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.























        0












        0








        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








        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.










        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








        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



        share|improve this answer






        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 6 hours ago









        sh.alawnehsh.alawneh

        11




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