Re: cp creates extraneous directories

[Padraig Brady]

address@hidden wrote:
> Padraig Brady <address@hidden> [2002-10-14 14:58:23 +0100]:
>
> > $ cp --version
> > cp (fileutils) 4.1
> >
> > $ mkdir test
> > $ cd test
> > $ touch f1
> > $ mkdir t
> > $ cd t
> > $ cp -a ../* .
> >
> > # extra t level is created?
>
> A very good test case!
>
> Yes.  But is it a bug since you did ask to copy that directory?  I
> think that because you specifically requested cp to copy that
> directory that the creation of that directory would be expected.

Hmm?

> I say specifically requested because if you use echo to see what the
> file glob matches you will see that directory on the comand line.
>
>   mkdir test
>   cd test
>   mkdir t
>   cd t
>   ls -l ..
>   echo cp -a ../* .
>
> The output shows:
>
>   cp -a ../t .
>
> If it did not create the directory wouldn't that be a bug?

Well it's at least inconsistent.
Why does it say "can't copy directory to itself" when it actually does.

Pádraig.