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ln

NAME

ln - make links between files

SYNOPSIS

ln [OPTION]... TARGET [LINK_NAME]
ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY
ln [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY TARGET...

DESCRIPTION

Create a link to the specified TARGET with optional LINK_NAME. If LINK_NAME is omitted, a link with the same basename as the TARGET is created in the current directory. When using the second form with more than one TARGET, the last argument must be a directory; create links in DIRECTORY to each TARGET. Create hard links by default, symbolic links with --symbolic. When creating hard links, each TARGET must exist.

--backup[=CONTROL]

make a backup of each existing destination file

-b

like --backup but does not accept an argument

-d, -F, --directory

hard link directories (super-user only)

-f, --force

remove existing destination files

-n, --no-dereference

treat destination that is a symlink to a directory as if it were a normal file

-i, --interactive

prompt whether to remove destinations

-s, --symbolic

make symbolic links instead of hard links

-S, --suffix=SUFFIX

override the usual backup suffix

--target-directory=DIRECTORY

specify the DIRECTORY in which to create the links

-v, --verbose

print name of each file before linking

--help

display this help and exit

--version

output version information and exit

The backup suffix is `~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_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

AUTHOR

Written by Mike Parker and David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2001 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 ln is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and ln programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info ln

should give you access to the complete manual.