FileInfo::CopyTo Method (String^, Boolean)

.NET Framework (current version)
 

Copies an existing file to a new file, allowing the overwriting of an existing file.

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

C#
C++
F#
VB
Copy 
public:
FileInfo^ CopyTo(
	String^ destFileName,
	bool overwrite
)

Parameters

destFileName
Type: System::String^

The name of the new file to copy to.

overwrite
Type: System::Boolean

true to allow an existing file to be overwritten; otherwise, false.

Return Value

Type: System.IO::FileInfo^

A new file, or an overwrite of an existing file if overwrite is true. If the file exists and overwrite is false, an IOException is thrown.

Exception Condition
ArgumentException

destFileName is empty, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters.

IOException

An error occurs, or the destination file already exists and overwrite is false.

SecurityException

The caller does not have the required permission.

ArgumentNullException

destFileName is null.

DirectoryNotFoundException

The directory specified in destFileName does not exist.

UnauthorizedAccessException

A directory path is passed in, or the file is being moved to a different drive.

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.

NotSupportedException

destFileName contains a colon (:) in the middle of the string.

Use this method to allow or prevent overwriting of an existing file. Use the CopyTo method to prevent overwriting of an existing file by default.

System_CAPS_cautionCaution

Whenever possible, avoid using short file names (such as XXXXXX~1.XXX) with this method. If two files have equivalent short file names then this method may fail and raise an exception and/or result in undesirable behavior

The following example demonstrates both overloads of the CopyTo method.

C#
C++
VB
Copy 
using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;

int main()
{
   String^ path = "c:\\MyTest.txt";
   String^ path2 = "c:\\MyTest.txttemp";
   FileInfo^ fi1 = gcnew FileInfo( path );
   FileInfo^ fi2 = gcnew FileInfo( path2 );
   try
   {
      // Create the file and clean up handles.
      FileStream^ fs = fi1->Create();
      if ( fs )
         delete (IDisposable^)fs;

      //Ensure that the target does not exist.
      fi2->Delete();

      //Copy the file.
      fi1->CopyTo( path2 );
      Console::WriteLine( "{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2 );

      //Try to copy it again, which should succeed.
      fi1->CopyTo( path2, true );
      Console::WriteLine( "The second Copy operation succeeded, which is expected." );
   }
   catch ( Exception^ ) 
   {
      Console::WriteLine( "Double copying was not allowed, which is not expected." );
   }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following; 
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//The second Copy operation succeeded, which is expected.

The following example demonstrates copying one file to another file, specifying whether to overwrite a file that already exists.

C#
C++
VB
Copy 
using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
int main()
{

   // Create a reference to a file, which might or might not exist.
   // If it does not exist, it is not yet created.
   FileInfo^ fi = gcnew FileInfo( "temp.txt" );

   // Create a writer, ready to add entries to the file.
   StreamWriter^ sw = fi->AppendText();
   sw->WriteLine( "Add as many lines as you like..." );
   sw->WriteLine( "Add another line to the output..." );
   sw->Flush();
   sw->Close();

   // Get the information out of the file and display it.
   StreamReader^ sr = gcnew StreamReader( fi->OpenRead() );
   Console::WriteLine( "This is the information in the first file:" );
   while ( sr->Peek() != -1 )
      Console::WriteLine( sr->ReadLine() );


   // Copy this file to another file. The true parameter specifies
   // that the file will be overwritten if it already exists.
   FileInfo^ newfi = fi->CopyTo( "newTemp.txt", true );

   // Get the information out of the new file and display it.* sr = new StreamReader( newfi->OpenRead() );
   Console::WriteLine( "{0}This is the information in the second file:", Environment::NewLine );
   while ( sr->Peek() != -1 )
      Console::WriteLine( sr->ReadLine() );
}
//This code produces output similar to the following; 
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//This is the information in the first file:
//Add as many lines as you like...
//Add another line to the output...
//This is the information in the second file:
//

FileIOPermission

for reading and writing files. Associated enumerations: FileIOPermissionAccess::Read, FileIOPermissionAccess::Write

Universal Windows Platform
Available since 10
.NET Framework
Available since 1.1
Silverlight
Available since 2.0
Windows Phone Silverlight
Available since 7.0
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