Why does 'cp -f' not work anymore?

[Mark Farmer]

Chris W. Parker wrote:
> Cameron Simpson <mailto:cs at zip.com.au>
>     on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 4:32 PM said:
> 
> 
>>Even easier is to quote just one character instead of the whole word:
>>
>>  \cp -f newfile.txt this-has-to-go.txt
> 
> 
> I've sinced just changed the original alias to be only 'cp' (although I
> guess I might as well get rid of the alias altogether...).
> 
> But what I'm finding now is that it's not confirming an overwrite at all
> now.
> 
> Originally the problem was that even 'cp -f' resulted in an overwrite
> confirmation. What I want to happen is that 'cp' will ask me for
> permission to overwrite and 'cp -f' will not. Is that possible? Or do I
> just have to remember to type 'cp -i'?

I came accross this when setting up an nfs installation directory.
The alias can easily be bypassed by giving the path to the command:

/bin/cp

Then you could simply choose to add -i (/bin/cp -i) if you want to confirm a file
overwrite.

This is the method I use, it's simple, no hassle & puts me in control of what happens :-)
Of course it may not be appropriate for more complex situations.

HTH

-- 
Mark Farmer
Linux System Administrator
Cromwell Group (Holdings) LTD
65 Chartwell Drive
Wigston
Leicester
LE18 1AT
Tel: (+44) 0116 2572386
Fax: (+44) 0116 2572409
Email: <farmerma |AT| cromwell |DOT| co |DOT| uk>
www.cromwell.co.uk

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