Directory.Move Method (System.IO)

Move Method

Collapse All

Language Filter

This page is specific to

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:

.NET Framework Class Library

Directory..::.Move Method

Moves a file or a directory and its contents to a new location.

Namespace: System.IO
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Shared Sub Move ( _
    sourceDirName As String, _
    destDirName As String _
)

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim sourceDirName As String
Dim destDirName As String

Directory.Move(sourceDirName, destDirName)

public static void Move(
    string sourceDirName,
    string destDirName
)

Visual C++

public:
static void Move(
    String^ sourceDirName, 
    String^ destDirName
)

JScript

public static function Move(
    sourceDirName : String, 
    destDirName : String
)

Parameters

sourceDirName: Type: System..::.String
The path of the file or directory to move.

destDirName: Type: System..::.String
The path to the new location for sourceDirName. If sourceDirName is a file, then destDirName must also be a file name.

Exceptions

Exception	Condition
IOException	An attempt was made to move a directory to a different volume. -or- destDirName already exists. -or- The sourceDirName and destDirName parameters refer to the same file or directory.
UnauthorizedAccessException	The caller does not have the required permission.
ArgumentException	sourceDirName or destDirName is a zero-length string, contains only white space, or contains one or more invalid characters as defined by InvalidPathChars.
ArgumentNullException	sourceDirName or destDirName is nullNothingnullptra null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).
PathTooLongException	The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length. For example, on Windows-based platforms, paths must be less than 248 characters and file names must be less than 260 characters.
DirectoryNotFoundException	The path specified by sourceDirName is invalid (for example, it is on an unmapped drive).

Remarks

This method throws an IOException if, for example, you try to move c:\mydir to c:\public, and c:\public already exists. You must specify "c:\\public\\mydir" as the destDirName parameter, provided that "mydir" does not exist under "c:\\public", or specify a new directory name such as "c:\\newdir".

The sourceDirName and destDirName arguments are permitted to specify relative or absolute path information. Relative path information is interpreted as relative to the current working directory. To obtain the current working directory, see GetCurrentDirectory.

For a list of common I/O tasks, see Common I/O Tasks.

Examples

The following example demonstrates how to move a directory and all files contained therein to a new location on the hard disk drive. The example is configured to catch all errors common to this method.

Visual Basic

Option Explicit On 
Option Strict On

Imports System

Namespace GetFileSystemEntries
    Class Class1
        Overloads Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
            Dim snippets As New Class1()
            Dim path As String = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()
            Dim filter As String = "*.exe"
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path)
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path, filter)
            snippets.GetLogicalDrives()
            snippets.GetParent(path)
            snippets.Move("C:\proof", "C:\Temp")
        End Sub 'Main

        Sub PrintFileSystemEntries(ByVal path As String)
            Try
                ' Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
                Dim directoryEntries As String()
                directoryEntries = System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path)
                Dim str As String
                For Each str In directoryEntries
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                        "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + _
                                        "Directory object does not exist.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub PrintFileSystemEntries(ByVal path As String, _
                                   ByVal pattern As String)
            Try
                ' Obtain the file system entries in the directory
                ' path that match the pattern.
                Dim directoryEntries As String()
                directoryEntries = _
                   System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, pattern)

                Dim str As String
                For Each str In directoryEntries
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                        "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + _
                                        "Directory object does not exist.")
            End Try
        End Sub

        ' Print out all logical drives on the system.
        Sub GetLogicalDrives()
            Try
                Dim drives As String()
                drives = System.IO.Directory.GetLogicalDrives()

                Dim str As String
                For Each str In drives
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As System.IO.IOException
                System.Console.WriteLine("An I/O error occurs.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                           "required permission.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub GetParent(ByVal path As String)
            Try
                Dim directoryInfo As System.IO.DirectoryInfo
                directoryInfo = System.IO.Directory.GetParent(path)
                System.Console.WriteLine(directoryInfo.FullName)
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                     "contains only white spaces, or " + _
                                     "contains invalid characters.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub Move(ByVal sourcePath As String, ByVal destinationPath As String)
            Try
                System.IO.Directory.Move(sourcePath, destinationPath)
                System.Console.WriteLine("The directory move is complete.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                           "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.IOException
                System.Console.WriteLine("An attempt was made to move a " + _
                                        "directory to a different " + _
                                        "volume, or destDirName " + _
                                        "already exists.")
            End Try
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

using System;

namespace GetFileSystemEntries
{
    class Class1 
    {
        static void Main(string[] args) 
        {
            Class1 snippets = new Class1();

            string path = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
            string filter = "*.exe";

            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path);
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path, filter);        
            snippets.GetLogicalDrives();
            snippets.GetParent(path);
            snippets.Move("C:\\proof", "C:\\Temp");
        }

        
        void PrintFileSystemEntries(string path) 
        {
            
            try 
            {
                // Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
                string[] directoryEntries =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path); 

                foreach (string str in directoryEntries) 
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " + 
                    "or contains invalid characters.");
            }
            catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + 
                    "Directory object does not exist.");
            }
        }
        void PrintFileSystemEntries(string path, string pattern) 
        {
            try 
            {
                // Obtain the file system entries in the directory
                // path that match the pattern.
                string[] directoryEntries =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, pattern); 

                foreach (string str in directoryEntries) 
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " + 
                    "or contains invalid characters.");
            }
            catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + 
                    "Directory object does not exist.");
            }
        }

        // Print out all logical drives on the system.
        void GetLogicalDrives() 
        {
            try 
            {
                string[] drives = System.IO.Directory.GetLogicalDrives();

                foreach (string str in drives) 
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (System.IO.IOException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("An I/O error occurs.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
        }
        void GetParent(string path) 
        {
            try 
            {
                System.IO.DirectoryInfo directoryInfo =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetParent(path);

                System.Console.WriteLine(directoryInfo.FullName);
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, or " +
                    "contains invalid characters.");
            }
        }
        void Move(string sourcePath, string destinationPath) 
        {
            try 
            {
                System.IO.Directory.Move(sourcePath, destinationPath);
                System.Console.WriteLine("The directory move is complete.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " + 
                    "or contains invalid characters.");    
            }
            catch (System.IO.IOException) 
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("An attempt was made to move a " +
                    "directory to a different " +
                    "volume, or destDirName " +
                    "already exists."); 
            }
        }
    }
}

Visual C++

using namespace System;
class Class1
{
public:
   void PrintFileSystemEntries( String^ path )
   {
      try
      {

         // Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
         array<String^>^directoryEntries = System::IO::Directory::GetFileSystemEntries( path );
         for ( int i = 0; i < directoryEntries->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( directoryEntries[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::DirectoryNotFoundException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The path encapsulated in the \HelloServer'                  Directory object does not exist." );
      }

   }

   void PrintFileSystemEntries( String^ path, String^ pattern )
   {
      try
      {

         // Obtain the file system entries in the directory
         // path that match the pattern.
         array<String^>^directoryEntries = System::IO::Directory::GetFileSystemEntries( path, pattern );
         for ( int i = 0; i < directoryEntries->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( directoryEntries[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::DirectoryNotFoundException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The path encapsulated in the \HelloServer'                  Directory object does not exist." );
      }

   }


   // Print out all logical drives on the system.
   void GetLogicalDrives()
   {
      try
      {
         array<String^>^drives = System::IO::Directory::GetLogicalDrives();
         for ( int i = 0; i < drives->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( drives[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( System::IO::IOException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "An I/O error occurs." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }

   }

   void GetParent( String^ path )
   {
      try
      {
         System::IO::DirectoryInfo^ directoryInfo = System::IO::Directory::GetParent( path );
         System::Console::WriteLine( directoryInfo->FullName );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, or \HelloServer'                  contains invalid characters." );
      }

   }

   void Move( String^ sourcePath, String^ destinationPath )
   {
      try
      {
         System::IO::Directory::Move( sourcePath, destinationPath );
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The directory move is complete." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::IOException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "An attempt was made to move a \HelloServer'                  directory to a different \HelloServer'                  volume, or destDirName \HelloServer'                  already exists." );
      }

   }

};

int main()
{
   Class1 * snippets = new Class1;
   String^ path = System::IO::Directory::GetCurrentDirectory();
   String^ filter =  "*.exe";
   snippets->PrintFileSystemEntries( path );
   snippets->PrintFileSystemEntries( path, filter );
   snippets->GetLogicalDrives();
   snippets->GetParent( path );
   snippets->Move(  "C:\\proof",  "C:\\Temp" );
   return 0;
}

.NET Framework Security

FileIOPermission
for reading from sourceDirName and writing to sourceDirName and destDirName. Associated enumerations: FileIOPermissionAccess..::.Read, FileIOPermissionAccess..::.Write

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0, 1.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0

Reference

Directory Class

Directory Members

System.IO Namespace

Other Resources

File and Stream I/O

How to: Read Text from a File

How to: Write Text to a File