usr/man/cat1/mv.0



MV(1)               UNIX Programmer's Manual                MV(1)


N\bNA\bAM\bME\bE
     mv - move or rename files

S\bSY\bYN\bNO\bOP\bPS\bSI\bIS\bS
     m\bmv\bv [ -\b-i\bi ] [ -\b-f\bf ] [ -\b- ] file1 file2

     m\bmv\bv [ -\b-i\bi ] [ -\b-f\bf ] [ -\b- ] file ... directory

D\bDE\bES\bSC\bCR\bRI\bIP\bPT\bTI\bIO\bON\bN
     _\bM_\bv moves (changes the name of) _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b1 to _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b2.

     If _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b2 already exists, it is removed before _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b1 is
     moved.  If _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b2 has a mode which forbids writing, _\bm_\bv prints
     the mode (see _\bc_\bh_\bm_\bo_\bd(2)) and reads the standard input to
     obtain a line; if the line begins with y\by,\b, the move takes
     place; if not, _\bm_\bv exits.

     In the second form, one or more _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\bs (plain files or direc-
     tories) are moved to the _\bd_\bi_\br_\be_\bc_\bt_\bo_\br_\by with their original
     file-names.

     _\bM_\bv refuses to move a file onto itself.

     Options:

     -\b-i\bi   stands for interactive mode. Whenever a move is to
          supercede an existing file, the user is prompted by the
          name of the file followed by a question mark. If he
          answers with a line starting with 'y', the move contin-
          ues. Any other reply prevents the move from occurring.

     -\b-f\bf   stands for force. This option overrides any mode res-
          trictions or the -i switch.

     -\b-          means interpret all the following arguments to _\bm_\bv as
          file names.  This allows file names starting with
          minus.

S\bSE\bEE\bE A\bAL\bLS\bSO\bO
     cp(1), ln(1)

B\bBU\bUG\bGS\bS
     If _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b1 and _\bf_\bi_\bl_\be_\b2 lie on different file systems, _\bm_\bv must
     copy the file and delete the original.  In this case the
     owner name becomes that of the copying process and any link-
     ing relationship with other files is lost.


Printed 7/9/88           April 29, 1985                         1