GNU bug report logs - #14972
cp docs should mention permissions result when destination already exists

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From: help-debbugs <at> gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System)
To: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
Cc: tracker <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: bug#14972: closed (cp docs should mention permissions result when
 destination already exists)
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:51:02 +0000

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Your message dated Sun, 28 Jul 2013 10:50:31 +0100
with message-id <51F4E967.7010202 <at> draigBrady.com>
and subject line Re: bug#14972: cp docs should mention permissions result when destination already exists
has caused the debbugs.gnu.org bug report #14972,
regarding cp docs should mention permissions result when destination already exists
to be marked as done.

(If you believe you have received this mail in error, please contact
help-debbugs <at> gnu.org.)


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14972: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=14972
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From: jidanni <at> jidanni.org
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: cp docs should mention permissions result when destination already
 exists
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 11:31:12 +0800

Fellows, I don't think
(info "(coreutils) cp invocation")
mentions how
$ touch m
$ cp m n
$ chmod 444 m
$ cp m n #THESE LINES
$ cp m p #MAKE DIFFERENT THINGS
$ ls -l
-r--r--r-- 1 jidanni jidanni 0 07-28 11:20 m
-rw-r--r-- 1 jidanni jidanni 0 07-28 11:21 n
-r--r--r-- 1 jidanni jidanni 0 07-28 11:21 p
All we read is

     In the absence of this option, each destination file is created
     with the mode bits of the corresponding source file, minus the
     bits set in the umask and minus the set-user-ID and set-group-ID
     bits.  *Note File permissions::.

So it says 'created', but doesn't mention what happens if the destination
already exists.

Yes I am deliberately not using -p here.

(This would also explain the mystery of how openssh-client: /usr/bin/scp works.)

$ cp --version
cp (GNU coreutils) 8.21

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From: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
To: jidanni <at> jidanni.org
Cc: 14972-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14972: cp docs should mention permissions result when
 destination already exists
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 10:50:31 +0100

Better to be explicit I suppose.
How about:

-In the absence of this option, each destination file is created with the
+In the absence of this option, the permissions of existing destination
+files are unchanged, while each new file is created with the
 mode bits of the corresponding source file, minus the bits set in the
 umask and minus the set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits.
 @xref{File permissions}.

thanks,
Pádraig.

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