OT:force overwrite with cp

rotis23 · 07-05-2004, 10:44 AM

Can anyone please tell me how to force overwrite with the cp command [on linux] on the command-line.

The following do not work:

-f
--force
--remove-destination

Any ideas?

rotis23

XSquared · 07-05-2004, 10:50 AM

According to the man page, -f should work. What's the entire command you're using?

rotis23 · 07-05-2004, 10:57 AM

Try this to recreate:

Code:

touch /tmp/file
touch file
cp -f file /tmp

XSquared · 07-05-2004, 11:09 AM

Try doing this:

Code:

touch /tmp/file
touche file
cp -f file /tmp/

Does it work if you include the trailing slash? I'm at work and don't have access to a *NIX box.

rotis23 · 07-05-2004, 02:49 PM

No difference with trailing slashes.

It's a permissions thing.

If I create the file as a user in /tmp I can cp without a confirmation (even without a -f).

But if you su to root, confirmation is required.

I still confused.

rotis23 · 07-05-2004, 02:50 PM

example:

Code:

[rotis23@cabbage rotis23]$ touch /tmp/file
[rotis23@cabbage rotis23]$ cp file /tmp
[rotis23@cabbage rotis23]$ su
Password:
[root@cabbage rotis23]# cp file /tmp
cp: overwrite `/tmp/file'? y
[root@cabbage rotis23]# exit
exit
[rotis23@cabbage rotis23]$ cp file /tmp
[rotis23@cabbage rotis23]$

XSquared · 07-05-2004, 03:02 PM

Code:

mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ touch /tmp/file
mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ touch file
mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ cp file /tmp
mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ su -
Password:
xanthus root # touch file
xanthus root # cp file /tmp
xanthus root # exit
logout
mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ cp file /tmp
mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $

rotis23 · 07-05-2004, 03:24 PM

Weird - I tried 'su -' but still no difference.

I've tested using redhat 8 and 9. What unix are you using XSquared.

BTW vegetables are the new mythological creatures!

**Hammer** · 07-05-2004, 04:13 PM

Show us an "ls -al" for that file before and after.
Check your umask settings for each user. These will affects the default file permissions for new files.
>>cp -f source target
should do you. Can you show the output for it failing?

XSquared · 07-05-2004, 06:41 PM

I'm runnin' Gentoo with a 2.6.5 kernel. Just for reference, I've included the ls -al before and after.

Code:

Before:
-rw-r--r--  1 mlawrence users 0 Jul  5 20:42 /tmp/file

After:
-rw-r--r--  1 mlawrence users 0 Jul  5 20:42 /tmp/file

rotis23 · 07-06-2004, 07:11 AM

Found the problem - alias!!

cp is aliased to 'cp -i'!!

Code:

[root@cabbage cmasters]# alias
alias cp='cp -i'

linuxdude · 07-06-2004, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotis23

Found the problem - alias!!

cp is aliased to 'cp -i'!!

Code:

[root@cabbage cmasters]# alias
alias cp='cp -i'

yeah Redhet does that, would have never remembered that.

jim mcnamara · 07-06-2004, 11:11 AM

Several Linux distros do that to prevent overwriting files in places like '/' with commands like 'cp * /' issued by newbies.

07-05-2004, 10:44 AM	#1
rotis23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 351	OT:force overwrite with cp Can anyone please tell me how to force overwrite with the cp command [on linux] on the command-line. The following do not work: -f --force --remove-destination Any ideas? rotis23
rotis23 is offline

07-05-2004, 10:50 AM	#2
XSquared C++ Developer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UWaterloo Posts: 2,718	According to the man page, -f should work. What's the entire command you're using? __________________ Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie
XSquared is offline

07-05-2004, 10:57 AM	#3
rotis23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 351	Try this to recreate: Code: touch /tmp/file touch file cp -f file /tmp
rotis23 is offline

07-05-2004, 11:09 AM	#4
XSquared C++ Developer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UWaterloo Posts: 2,718	Try doing this: Code: touch /tmp/file touche file cp -f file /tmp/ Does it work if you include the trailing slash? I'm at work and don't have access to a NIX box. __________________ Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun* pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie
XSquared is offline

07-05-2004, 02:49 PM	#5
rotis23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 351	No difference with trailing slashes. It's a permissions thing. If I create the file as a user in /tmp I can cp without a confirmation (even without a -f). But if you su to root, confirmation is required. I still confused.
rotis23 is offline

07-05-2004, 03:02 PM	#7
XSquared C++ Developer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UWaterloo Posts: 2,718	Code: mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ touch /tmp/file mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ touch file mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ cp file /tmp mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ su - Password: xanthus root # touch file xanthus root # cp file /tmp xanthus root # exit logout mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ cp file /tmp mlawrence@xanthus mlawrence $ __________________ Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie
XSquared is offline

07-05-2004, 03:24 PM	#8
rotis23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 351	Weird - I tried 'su -' but still no difference. I've tested using redhat 8 and 9. What unix are you using XSquared. BTW vegetables are the new mythological creatures!
rotis23 is offline

07-05-2004, 04:13 PM	#9
Hammer End Of Line Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6,240	Show us an "ls -al" for that file before and after. Check your umask settings for each user. These will affects the default file permissions for new files. >>cp -f source target should do you. Can you show the output for it failing? __________________ When all else fails, read the instructions. If you're posting code, use code tags: [code] /* insert code here */ [/code]
Hammer is offline

07-05-2004, 06:41 PM	#10
XSquared C++ Developer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UWaterloo Posts: 2,718	I'm runnin' Gentoo with a 2.6.5 kernel. Just for reference, I've included the ls -al before and after. Code: Before: -rw-r--r-- 1 mlawrence users 0 Jul 5 20:42 /tmp/file After: -rw-r--r-- 1 mlawrence users 0 Jul 5 20:42 /tmp/file __________________ Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie
XSquared is offline

07-06-2004, 07:11 AM	#11
rotis23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 351	Found the problem - alias!! cp is aliased to 'cp -i'!! Code: [root@cabbage cmasters]# alias alias cp='cp -i'
rotis23 is offline

07-06-2004, 11:11 AM	#13
jim mcnamara . Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 293	Several Linux distros do that to prevent overwriting files in places like '/' with commands like 'cp * /' issued by newbies.
jim mcnamara is offline

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