Re: failed to make gcp

[Bob Proulx]

> I am trying to run bu which requires gcp they said to install it
> from gnu file utils 4 I have installed it but it failed to put gcp
> on.  Could someone tell me how this is done?

I have no idea what the 'bu' command is.  But if it is requiring gcp
then most likely what it really wants to see is the GNU cp command
called 'gcp' instead of as 'cp'.  The GNU coreutils are part of the
GNU Operating System.  On a GNU OS the 'gcp' command is installed as
'cp'.  Simple direct and no confusing prefixes.

But on some operating systems other than GNU the native OS has already
has a 'cp' command.  The options might be different.  The behavior
might be different.  It is a different command.  If the GNU cp command
were installed as 'cp' on that type of OS it just might break some
native system utility.  Therefore on those systems people will install
the GNU software with a 'g' prefix.  So 'cp' becomes 'gcp'.  Different
name and therefore no problem.

I do not recommend that myself.  It is too confusing and you are
seeing just one reason why.  I recommend installing them in either
/usr/local/bin, which is very typical, or in someplace completely
different such as /opt/local/bin or /opt/gnu/bin or some place like
that.  Then set PATH to something like /usr/local/bin first followed
everything else later.  Then you will get the GNU software without the
possibility of confusing the native system.

Back to your problem.  Just rename or copy your new GNU 'cp' that you
just compiled to 'gcp' and the 'bu' command should be able to find it.

Bob