Cp

btw: u have to remove the target dir /a/c (by typing cd /a and rm -fr c) and then "p -r /a/b /a/c" (watch the missing trailing /) the copy all files (include hidden ones) within b to the new dir c.

CP(1)                           User Commands                           CP(1)

NAME cp - copy files and directories

SYNOPSIS cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY cp [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

Mandatory arguments  to  long  options are mandatory for short options too.

-a, --archive same as -dpR

--backup[=CONTROL] make a backup of each existing destination file

-b    like --backup but does not accept an argument

--copy-contents copy contents of special files when recursive

-d    same as --no-dereference --preserve=link

--no-dereference never follow symbolic links

-f, --force if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again

-i, --interactive prompt before overwrite

-H    follow command-line symbolic links

-l, --link link files instead of copying

-L, --dereference always follow symbolic links

-p    same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps

--preserve[=ATTR_LIST] preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,time-             stamps), if possible additional attributes: links, all

--no-preserve=ATTR_LIST don't preserve the specified attributes

--parents append source path to DIRECTORY

-P    same as `--no-dereference'

-R, -r, --recursive copy directories recursively

--remove-destination remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)

--reply={yes,no,query} specify how  to handle the prompt about an existing destination file

--sparse=WHEN control creation of sparse files

--strip-trailing-slashes remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument

-s, --symbolic-link make symbolic links instead of copying

-S, --suffix=SUFFIX override the usual backup suffix

--target-directory=DIRECTORY move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

-u, --update copy only when the SOURCE file is newer  than  the  destination file or when the destination file is missing

-v, --verbose explain what is being done

-x, --one-file-system stay on this file system

--help display this help and exit

--version output version information and exit

By default,  sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude heuristic and the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well. That is the behav- ior selected  by  --sparse=auto. Specify --sparse=always to create a      sparse DEST file whenever  the  SOURCE  file  contains  a  long  enough sequence of  zero  bytes. Use --sparse=never to inhibit creation of       sparse files.

The backup  suffix  is  `~',  unless  set  with   --suffix   or   SIM- PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL  environment  variable. Here are the values:

none, off never make backups (even if --backup is given)

numbered, t             make numbered backups

existing, nil numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

simple, never always make simple backups

As a  special  case,  cp  makes  a backup of SOURCE when the force and backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name for  an       existing, regular file.

AUTHOR Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

REPORTING BUGS Report bugs to .

COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is      NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR  A  PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO The full  documentation  for cp is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If      the info and coreutils cp programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info coreutils cp

should give you access to the complete manual.

cp (coreutils) 5.2.1              July 2004                             CP(1)