GNU bug report logs - #17578
cp(1) man page: behavior of "cp -R dir target" on symbolic links is unclear

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From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: vincent <at> vinc17.net, 17578 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: bug#17578: cp(1) man page: behavior of "cp -R dir target" on symbolic links is unclear
Date: Sat, 24 May 2014 10:28:30 -0700

Vincent Lefevre wrote:
> this is also what the info file says: "When
> copying from a symbolic link, `cp' normally follows the link only
> when not copying recursively."

Must be an old version; the current text says "When copying from a 
symbolic link, 'cp' normally follows the link only when not copying 
recursively or when '--link' ('-l') is used."  A bit complicated, 
unfortunately; don't know whether that detail is worth adding to the 
--help output (which the man page is derived from).

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