linux copy symbolic link

linux copy symbolic link [closed]

up vote 19 down vote favorite 1	How do I copy a symbolic link from one directory to another? ls -ls file1.txt file2.txt files -> /mnt/iscsi-nfs-share/faulttracker-files what I'm looking to do is copy files symbolic link into another directory? cp files /var/copylinktohere/ the above results in cp: omitting directory `files' linux shell command-line symlink cp shareimprove this question edited Dec 30 '13 at 0:44 Benjamin 10.9k1692169 asked Apr 26 '12 at 9:47 Robbo_UK 93562649
closed as off-topic by Benjamin, bmargulies, iandotkelly, Tim Dean, Michael Kohne Dec 30 '13 at 2:59 This question does not appear to be about programming within the scope defined in the help center. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
	im only looking to copy the symlink not the actual contents of the directory – Robbo_UK Apr 26 '12 at 9:48 5   Did you have a look in the manual pages? If not, is --no-dereference what you're looking for? – HonkyTonk Apr 26 '12 at 9:52 thanks for this gave plus one. I found all the options available a little confusing. – Robbo_UK Apr 26 '12 at 9:59 3   Belongs to unix.stackexchange.com – Benjamin Dec 30 '13 at 0:43 @Benjamin: Fair comment — no mention of C. It is still on topic as it is about how to write shell programs (even if it is a one-liner). As such, it is fine on Stack Overflow. – Jonathan Leffler Dec 30 '13 at 14:11 add a comment

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up vote 33 down vote accepted	Use the -d option: cp -d files /var/copylinktohere/ From man cp: -d same as --no-dereference --preserve=link --no-dereference never follow symbolic links shareimprove this answer answered Apr 26 '12 at 9:51 dogbane 132k40230317
	does this work if the symbolic links are not relative? ie copying into a destination directory higher or lower than the source directory. – Andrew Brown Mar 20 '14 at 6:57 add a comment

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