copy all directories, no to all overwrite files [SOLVED]

[lindaonline15]

hi, I want to copy a dir into another one, and all directories inside them, but I do not want to overwrite the similar files.
what is the command?
should I use cp -r for recursively? but how not to overwite the files

[sithlord48]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

use dolphin, and when asked select writein to and don't overwrite

cp -r will overwrite the files. iirc

[lindaonline15]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

thx but i know on dolphin, but I want to learn it in command line as well...

[kubicle]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

Depending on what you want,' cp -ru' might be an option. -u (or --update) only copies files that are newer in the SOURCE or don't exist in DEST.

If you want something fancier, rsync is more versatile than cp.

[wizard10000]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

Did anybody look at cp's man page?



cp -rn /source /destination

[kubicle]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

Did anybody look at cp's man page?



cp -rn /source /destination

Sure, but I understood this:

but I do not want to overwrite the similar files.

to mean that changed files (even with the same filename) should be overwritten (I could have misunderstood the question, though).

If simple "never overwrite" is what's needed , then -rn is the way to go.

[wizard10000]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

Maybe I should read the post instead of the man page

[Telengard]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

Without any options cp silently overwrites same name files. If you want to be prompted before overwriting, then use --interactive.

The -n option wizard10000 mentioned is new. It doesn't exist in Ubuntu releases before 10.04.

For more details please consult the manpage and GNU Coreutils documents.

HTH

[lindaonline15]

Re: copy all directories, no to all overwrite files

thank you all. helped alot