Bert Wesarg wrote: > On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 18:25, Bert Wesarg <bert.wes...@googlemail.com> wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I'm failing in creating a symlink where the destination is a directory >> and do a backup of this directory. This is what I tried: >> >> $ mkdir a >> $ ln -s --no-target-directory --backup=numbered b a >> ln: `a': cannot overwrite directory >> >> Looking at the code I can seen the reason, the backup rename() is >> never executed, because the check whether the target is a directory >> comes first. >> >> Any hints whether this is a bug of ln or how I can create the link >> while preserving the destination as an backup are more than welcomed. >> >> Thanks. >> Bert >> > Thanks to all for the release. But can someone please have a look at my > problem?
cp and mv work the same way: even with --backup, they refuse to move aside a destination directory. However, that's something that I've considered worth changing for years. I never got around to it. If only for the testing requirements, it will not be a trivial change, since for UI consistency, it should affect all three at the same time. Maybe someone will volunteer to do the work.
