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Command to Copy Files on a Mac in Terminal.app


If you want to run a command to copy a directory on an Apple computer open Terminal.app under Applications . . . Utilities . . . in Finder. Then enter the command cp with the switch -Ri. The R makes it recursive (it will copy any subdirectories in the source path), and the i makes it interactive - meaning the user will be prompted if files are going to replaced. Don't include the name of the computer in the command. So if the the Get Info properties for a directory shows it as being at HomeAppleLaptop/Users/JohnsonF/Documents , just enter Users/JohnsonF/Documents. This is the full format:

cp -Ri /Users/JohnsonF/Documents/manuals /Uses/JohnsonF/Documents/Dogs


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