Description of problem: As root, if you run "cp -f file1 file2" and file2 exists, the command asks for confirmation: "cp: Overwrite �file2�? (y/n)". The "-f" option should omit the confirmation request. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): coreutils-5.2.1-31 How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. su - 2. touch file1 file2 3. cp -f file1 file2 Actual Results: I'm asked for confirmation: cp: Overwrite �file2�? (y/n) Expected Results: Confirmation shouldn't appear. Additional info: FedoraCore3 coreutils-5.2.1-31 (comes with the distribution) There are no update available in the updates-released repository.
No, that's not what the -f option is for. Use --reply=yes to omit confirmation questions.
Sure? I've always used -f option to avoid the question. Running "cp --help" I obtain: -f, --force borra los destinos que ya existan, sin preguntar Translated: -f, --force deletes existing destinations, without asking Maybe a recent change in the functionality of cp?
Yes, I'm sure -- and if that's what cp --help really says then the translation is incorrect. Here is the original: -f, --force if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again This is POSIX territory. We *used* to patch cp so that -f also had the effect that --reply=yes now does, because at the time the latter option did not exist.
I see... Hmmm, the new option looks a bit long: cp --reply=yes ... Let me make a suggestion. What about patching cp so that -y assumes "yes" in all questions? cp -y ... The -y option is used in many commands, and I suppose it would be useful for cp too.
It's better to have fewer patches in our packages -- we already patch coreutils heavily enough. Feel free to suggest this on the bug-coreutils mailing list.
Done: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/2005-03/msg00051.html Thanks