MV(1)                                                       MV(1)



NAME

       mv - move (rename) files


SYNOPSIS

       mv [option...] source target
       mv [option...] source... target

       POSIX options: [-fi] [--]

       GNU  options  (shortest  form):  [-bfiuv]  [-S suffix] [-V
       {numbered,existing,simple}] [--help] [--version] [--]


DESCRIPTION

       mv moves or renames files or directories.

       If the last argument names an existing directory, mv moves
       each  other  given  file into a file with the same name in
       that directory. Otherwise, if only two files are given, it
       renames  the  first  as the second.  It is an error if the
       last argument is not a directory and more than  two  files
       are given.

       Thus, `mv /a/x/y /b' will rename the file /a/x/y into /b/y
       if /b was an existing directory, and into /b otherwise.

       Let us call the file a given file is  going  to  be  moved
       into  its  destination.  If destination exists, and either
       the -i option is  given,  or  destination  is  unwritable,
       standard  input  is  a  terminal, and the -f option is not
       given, mv prompts the user  for  whether  to  replace  the
       file,  writing  a question to stderr and reading an answer
       from stdin.  If the response is not affirmative, the  file
       is skipped.

       When  both source and destination are on the same filesys-
       tem, they are the same file (just  the  name  is  changed;
       owner,  mode, timestamps remain unchanged).  When they are
       on different filesystems, the source file  is  copied  and
       then  deleted.   mv  will  copy  modification time, access
       time, user and group ID, and mode if possible. When  copy-
       ing user and/or group ID fails, the setuid and setgid bits
       are cleared in the copy.


POSIX OPTIONS

       -f     Do not prompt for confirmation.

       -i     Prompt for confirmation  when  destination  exists.
              (In  case  both  -f  and -i are given, the last one
              given takes effect.)

       --     Terminate option list.


GNU DETAILS

       The GNU implementation (in fileutils-3.16)  is  broken  in



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MV(1)                                                       MV(1)


       the  sense  that  mv  can  move  only regular files across
       filesystems.


GNU OPTIONS

       -f, --force
              Remove existing destination files and never  prompt
              the user.

       -i, --interactive
              Prompt whether to overwrite existing regular desti-
              nation files.  If the response is not  affirmative,
              the file is skipped.

       -u, --update
              Do  not  move  a  nondirectory that has an existing
              destination with the  same  or  newer  modification
              time.

       -v, --verbose
              Print the name of each file before moving it.


GNU BACKUP OPTIONS

       The  GNU versions of programs like cp, mv, ln, install and
       patch will make a backup of files about to be overwritten,
       changed or destroyed if that is desired. That backup files
       are desired is indicated by the -b option. How they should
       be  named is specified by the -V option.  In case the name
       of the backup file is  given  by  the  name  of  the  file
       extended  by  a suffix, this suffix is specified by the -S
       option.

       -b, --backup
              Make backups of files that are about  to  be  over-
              written or removed.

       -S SUFFIX, --suffix=SUFFIX
              Append  SUFFIX  to  each backup file made.  If this
              option is not specified,  the  value  of  the  SIM-
              PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX  environment  variable  is  used.
              And if SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX is not set, the default
              is `~'.

       -V METHOD, --version-control=METHOD
              Specify  how  backup  files  are  named. The METHOD
              argument can be `numbered' (or `t'), `existing' (or
              `nil'),  or  `never' (or `simple').  If this option
              is not specified, the value of the  VERSION_CONTROL
              environment  variable is used.  And if VERSION_CON-
              TROL is not set, the default backup type is `exist-
              ing'.

              This option corresponds to the Emacs variable `ver-
              sion-control'.   The  valid  METHODs  are   (unique
              abbreviations are accepted):



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MV(1)                                                       MV(1)


              t, numbered
                     Always make numbered backups.

              nil, existing
                     Make  numbered backups of files that already
                     have them, simple backups of the others.

              never, simple
                     Always make simple backups.


GNU STANDARD OPTIONS

       --help Print a usage message on standard output  and  exit
              successfully.

       --version
              Print  version information on standard output, then
              exit successfully.

       --     Terminate option list.


ENVIRONMENT

       The  variables  LANG,  LC_ALL,  LC_COLLATE,  LC_CTYPE  and
       LC_MESSAGES  have  the usual meaning. For the GNU version,
       the  variables  SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX  and  VERSION_CONTROL
       control backup file naming, as described above.


CONFORMING TO

       POSIX  1003.2, except that directory hierarchies cannot be
       moved across filesystems.


NOTES

       This page describes mv as found in the fileutils-4.0 pack-
       age; other versions may differ slightly.  Mail corrections
       and additions to aeb@cwi.nl.  Report bugs in  the  program
       to fileutils-bugs@gnu.ai.mit.edu.






















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