MV(1)                                                                    MV(1)



NAME
       mv - move or rename files

SYNOPSIS
       mv [ -i ] [ -f ] [ - ] file1 file2

       mv [ -i ] [ -f ] [ - ] file ... directory

DESCRIPTION
       _M_v moves (changes the name of) _f_i_l_e_1 to _f_i_l_e_2.

       If _f_i_l_e_2 already exists, it is removed before _f_i_l_e_1 is moved.  If _f_i_l_e_2
       has a mode which forbids writing, _m_v prints the mode (see _c_h_m_o_d(2)) and
       reads  the  standard input to obtain a line; if the line begins with y,
       the move takes place; if not, _m_v exits.

       In the second form, one or more _f_i_l_e_s (plain files or directories)  are
       moved to the _d_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y with their original file-names.

       _M_v refuses to move a file onto itself.

       Options:

       -i     stands  for interactive mode. Whenever a move is to supercede an
              existing file, the user is prompted by the name of the file fol‐
              lowed  by  a  question  mark. If he answers with a line starting
              with ’y’, the move continues. Any other reply prevents the  move
              from occurring.

       -f     stands for force. This option overrides any mode restrictions or
              the -i switch.

       -      means interpret all the following arguments to _m_v as file names.
              This allows file names starting with minus.

SEE ALSO
       cp(1), ln(1)

BUGS
       If _f_i_l_e_1 and _f_i_l_e_2 lie on different file systems, _m_v must copy the file
       and delete the original.  In this case the owner name becomes  that  of
       the  copying  process  and any linking relationship with other files is
       lost.



4th Berkeley Distribution       April 29, 1985                           MV(1)