ln -- Command

Create a link to a file
ln [-f] oldfile newfile
ln [-f] oldfile ... directory

The COHERENT system  knows a file by its i-node  number.  Each file is also
linked to  one or more file  names, each name being  stored in a directory.
This system  means that  the same  file can be  known by multiple  names in
multiple directories.  The command ln lets you create a new link to a file.

In its  first form, ln links  the name newfile to the  file that is already
named oldfile, provided that newfile does not already exist.

In the  second form,  ln links  oldfile with an  identical name  in another
directory. In effect, one file will ``live'' in two directories.

If newfile already exists, -f forces ln to unlink it and assign its name to
oldfile.

See Also

commands,
cp,
ls,
mv,
rm

Notes

Links across  file systems are  impossible.  For example,  if your COHERENT
system has  two file systems,  one mounted on  /f and the  other mounted on
/usr, you cannot use ln to link a file in /v to one in /usr.

Note, too, that ln lets you link a directory to another file.  This feature
is  permitted by  POSIX Standard;  however, because  COHERENT does  not yet
support symbolic  links, this feature at  best is useless, and  at worst is
rather dangerous.  Caveat utilitor.

© 2012 by Stephen A. Ness