ln Command
  
  
  Purpose
  
  Links files.
  
  Syntax
  
  
  
   To Link a File to a File
  
  ln [  -f ] [  -s ] SourceFile [ TargetFile ]
  
   To Link a File or Files to a Directory
  
  ln [  -f ] [  -s ] SourceFile ... TargetDirectory
  
  Description
  
  The ln command links the file designated in the SourceFile param-
  eter to the file designated by the TargetFile parameter or to the
  same file name in another directory specified by the
  TargetDirectory parameter.  By default, the ln command creates
  hard links.  To use the ln command to create symbolic links,
  designate the -s flag.
  
  If you are linking a file to a new name, you can list only one
  file.  If you are linking to a directory, you can list more than
  one file.
  
  The TargetFile parameter is optional.  If you do not designate a
  target file, the ln command creates a new file in your current
  directory.  The new file inherits the name of the file designated
  in the SourceFile parameter.  See example 5.
  
  Note:	You cannot link files across file systems without using the
  -s flag.
  
  Flags
  
  -f	Causes the ln command to replace any destination paths that
  already exist.  If a destination path already exists and the -f
  flag is not specified, the ln command writes a diagnostic message
  to standard error  without  creating  a new link and continues to
  link the remaining SourceFiles.
  
  -s	Causes the ln command to create symbolic links.  A symbolic
  link contains  the  name  of the file to which it is linked.  The
  referenced file is used  when  an  open operation is performed on
  the link.  A stat call on a symbolic link returns the linked-to
  file; an lstat call must be done to obtain information about the
  link.  The readlink call may be used to read the contents of a
  symbolic link.  Symbolic links can span file systems and refer to
  directories.
  
  Note:	Absolute path names must be used when specifying the
  SourceFile parameter for the -s flag.  If the absolute path name
  is  not   designated,  unexpected  results  may  occur  when  the
  SourceFile and the TargetFile parameters are located in different
  directories.  The source  file  does  not  need  to  exist before
  creating the symbolic link.
  
  Exit Status
  
  This command returns the following exit values:
  
  0	All specified files were successfully linked.
  
  >0	An error occurred.
  
  Examples
  
  1.	To create another link (alias) to a file, enter:
  
  ln -f chap1 intro
  
  This links chap1 to the new name, intro.  If intro does not al-
  ready exist, the file name is created.  If intro does exist, the
  file is replaced by a link to chap1.  Then both the chap1 and
  intro file names will refer to the same file.  Any changes made
  to one also appear in the other.  If  one  file  name  is deleted
  with the  del or the  rm command, the file is not completely
  deleted since it remains under the other name.
  
  2.	To link a file to the same name in another directory, enter:
  
  ln index manual
  
  This links index to the new name, manual/index.
  
  Note: intro in example 1 is the name of a file; manual in example
  2 is a directory that already exists.
  
  3.	To link several files to names in another directory, enter:
  
  ln chap2 jim/chap3 /home/manual
  
  This links chap2 to the new name /home/manual/chap2 and jim/chap3
  to /home/manual/chap3.
  
  4.	To use the ln command with pattern-matching characters, enter:
  
  ln manual/* .
  
  This links all files in the manual directory into the current
  directory, . (dot), giving them the same names they have in the
  manual directory.
  
  Note:	You must type a space between the asterisk and the period.
  
  5.	To create a symbolic link, enter:
  
  ln -s /tmp/toc toc
  
  This creates the symbolic link, toc, in the current directory.
  The toc file points to the /tmp/toc file.  If the /tmp/toc file
  exists, the cat toc command lists its contents.
  
  To achieve identical results without designating the TargetFile
  parameter, enter:
  
  ln -s /tmp/toc
  
  Implementation Specifics
  
  This command is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
  
  Files
  
  /usr/bin/ln	Contains the ln command.
  
  Related Information
  
   Linking for Programmers in AIX Version 3.2 General Programming
  Concepts discusses links from a programming viewpoint.
  
  The  cp command,  mv command,  rm command
  
  The  link subroutine,  readlink subroutine,  stat subroutine, 
  symlink subroutine.
  
   Linking Files and Directories in AIX Version 3.2 System User's
  Guide: Base and Devices explains the concept of file linking.
  
   Directory Overview in AIX Version 3.2 Files Reference describes
  the structure and characteristics of directories in the file sys-
  tem.
  
   Files Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System User's Guide: Base and
  Devices describes files, file types, and how to name files.