---
layout: page
category-page: intermediate
category-title: Intermediate commands
author: Marco Farace
title: install
---

The file(s) are copied to the target file or directory. If the destination
is a directory, then the file is copied into directory with its original
filename.  If the target file already exists, it is either renamed to
file.old if the -b option is given or overwritten if permissions allow.<br>
An alternate backup suffix may be specified via the -B option's argument.<br>
Basic syntax is in the form

<pre>
install [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
</pre><br>

This line of code copies all .xyz file from <i>/source/folder</i> to <i>/destination/folder</i>

<pre>
install -D /source/folder/*.xyz /destination/folder
</pre><br>

<h3>Flags</h3>

<ul>
    <li>-b: Back up any existing files before overwriting them by renaming
        them to file.old.  See -B for specifying a different backup suffix.
        (-B suffix Use suffix as the backup suffix if -b is given)</li>
    <li>-C: Copy the file.  If the target file already exists and the files
        are the same, then don't change the modification time of the target</li>
    <li>-d: Create directories.  Missing parent directories are created as required.</li>
    <li>-f: Specify the target's file flags; see chflags(1) for a list of
        possible flags and their meanings.</li>
    <li>-g: Specify a group.  A numeric GID is allowed.</li>
    <li>-m: Specify an alternate mode.  The default mode is set to rwxr-xr-x
        (0755). The specified mode may be either an octal or symbolic
        value.</li>
    <li>-o: Specify an owner.  A numeric UID is allowed.</li>
</ul>