Can cp keep the file Date

[Steven Chen_1]

Hi,

I would like to kwon if cp command can keep the file date so that it suits my reference purpose. Usually it write the current date format.

Thanks anyone.

Steven

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

Hi Steven,

use cp -p myfile mycopy

This will preserve most of the attributes; however, mycopy's owner/group will be that of
the user doing the actual copy.

Clay

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Steven:

You can add the '-p' flag to your 'cp' command. This will preserve the modification time, access time, file mode, user ID, and group ID as allowed by permissions.

In my $HOME/.profile I have an alias for 'cp' that sets the '-p' and the '-i' flags by default.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Nico van Royen]

the cp -p will also preserve the user permissions. (providinng the user doing the copy has the access right to read the file, and write it down where wanted)..

[eric stewart_1]

I would like to see the cp command keep the -p option but would like an option to not copy the owner/group. Maybe -P option, same as -p except for owner/group.
What do others think?