ln

NAME

       ln - make links between files

SYNOPSIS

       ln [options] source [dest]
       ln [options] source... directory
       Options:
       [-bdfinsvF] [-S backup-suffix] [-V {numbered,existing,sim-
       ple}]       [--version-control={numbered,existing,simple}]
       [--backup]    [--directory]    [--force]   [--interactive]
       [--no-dereference]   [--symbolic]   [--verbose]    [--suf-
       fix=backup-suffix] [--help] [--version]

DESCRIPTION

       This  manual page documents the GNU version of ln.  If the
       last argument names an existing directory, ln  links  each
       other  given  file  into a file with the same name in that
       directory.  If only one file is given, it links that  file
       into  the current directory.  Otherwise, if only two files
       are given, it links the first onto the second.  It  is  an
       error  if  the  last  argument is not a directory and more
       than two files are given.  It makes hard links by default.
       By default, it does not remove existing files.

   OPTIONS
       -b, --backup
              Make backups of files that are about to be removed.

       -d, -F, --directory
              Allow the super-user to make hard links to directo-
              ries.

       -f, --force
              Remove existing destination files.

       -i, --interactive
              Prompt   whether  to  remove  existing  destination
              files.

       -n, --no-dereference
              When the specified destination is a  symbolic  link
              to  a  directory,  attempt  to replace the symbolic
              link rather than dereferencing it to create a  link
              in  the  directory to which it points.  This option
              is most useful in conjunction with --force.

       -s, --symbolic
              Make symbolic links instead of  hard  links.   This
              option produces an error message on systems that do
              not support symbolic links.

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

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

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

       -S, --suffix backup-suffix
              The suffix used for making simple backup files  can
              be  set  with  the SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX environment
              variable, which can be overridden by  this  option.
              If  neither  of those is given, the default is `~',
              as it is in Emacs.

       -V, --version-control {numbered,existing,simple}
              The type of backups made can be set with  the  VER-
              SION_CONTROL  environment  variable,  which  can be
              overridden by this option.  If  VERSION_CONTROL  is
              not  set  and this option is not given, the default
              backup type is `existing'.  The value of  the  VER-
              SION_CONTROL  environment variable and the argument
              to this option are like the GNU Emacs `version-con-
              trol'  variable;  they also recognize synonyms that
              are more descriptive.  The valid values are (unique
              abbreviations are accepted):

              `t' or `numbered'
                     Always make numbered backups.

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

              `never' or `simple'
                     Always make simple backups.