FileInfo.MoveTo Method

Definition

Namespace:

System.IO

Assemblies:

netstandard.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Overloads

MoveTo(String)	Moves a specified file to a new location, providing the option to specify a new file name.
MoveTo(String, Boolean)	Moves a specified file to a new location, providing the options to specify a new file name and to overwrite the destination file if it already exists.

MoveTo(String)

Source:

FileInfo.cs

Moves a specified file to a new location, providing the option to specify a new file name.

C#

public void MoveTo(string destFileName);

Parameters

destFileName

String

The path to move the file to, which can specify a different file name.

Exceptions

IOException

An I/O error occurs, such as the destination file already exists or the destination device is not ready.

ArgumentNullException

destFileName is null.

ArgumentException

.NET Framework and .NET Core versions older than 2.1: destFileName is empty, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters.

SecurityException

The caller does not have the required permission.

UnauthorizedAccessException

destFileName is read-only or is a directory.

FileNotFoundException

The file is not found.

DirectoryNotFoundException

The specified path is invalid, such as being on an unmapped drive.

PathTooLongException

The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length.

NotSupportedException

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

Examples

The following example demonstrates moving a file to a different location and renaming the file.

C#

using System;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.IO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Text;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
using System.Xml;

namespace Microsoft.Samples.MoveTo.CS
{
    class Program
    {
        private static string sourcePath = Environment.GetFolderPath
            (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) +
            @"\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml";
        
        private static string destPath = Environment.GetFolderPath
            (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) +
            @"\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml";
        //
        // The main entry point for the application.
        //
        [STAThread()] static void Main ()
        {
            // Change Console properties to make it obvious that
            // the application is starting.
            Console.Clear();
            // Move it to the upper left corner of the screen.
            Console.SetWindowPosition(0, 0);
            // Make it very large.
            Console.SetWindowSize(Console.LargestWindowWidth - 24,
                Console.LargestWindowHeight - 16);
            Console.WriteLine("Welcome.");
            Console.WriteLine("This application demonstrates the FileInfo.MoveTo method.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press any key to start.");
            string s = Console.ReadLine();
            Console.Write("    Checking whether ");
            Console.Write(sourcePath);
            Console.WriteLine(" exists.");
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo (sourcePath);
            EnsureSourceFileExists();
            DisplayFileProperties(fInfo);
            Console.WriteLine("Preparing to move the file to ");
            Console.Write(destPath);
            Console.WriteLine(".");
            MoveFile(fInfo);
            DisplayFileProperties(fInfo);
            Console.WriteLine("Preparing to delete directories.");
            DeleteFiles();
            Console.WriteLine("Press the ENTER key to close this application.");
            s = Console.ReadLine();
        }
        //
        // Moves the supplied FileInfo instance to destPath.
        //
        private static void MoveFile(FileInfo fInfo)
        {
            try
            {
                fInfo.MoveTo(destPath);
                Console.WriteLine("File moved to ");
                Console.WriteLine(destPath);
            } catch (Exception ex) {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
        }
        //
        // Ensures that the test directories
        // and the file FromFile.xml all exist.
        //
        private static void EnsureSourceFileExists()
        {
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo(sourcePath);
            string dirPath = fInfo.Directory.FullName;
            if (!Directory.Exists(dirPath))
            {
                Directory.CreateDirectory(dirPath);
            }
            if (File.Exists(destPath))
            {
                File.Delete(destPath);
            }
            Console.Write("Creating file ");
            Console.Write(fInfo.FullName);
            Console.WriteLine(".");
            try
            {
                if (!fInfo.Exists)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Adding data to the file.");
                    WriteFileContent(10);
                    Console.WriteLine("Successfully created the file.");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                dirPath = null;
            }
        }
        //
        // Creates and saves an Xml file to sourcePath.
        //
        private static void WriteFileContent(int totalElements)
        {
            XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
            doc.PreserveWhitespace = true;
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateXmlDeclaration("1.0", null, "yes"));
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            XmlElement root = doc.CreateElement("FileInfo.MoveTo");
            root.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            int index = 0;
            XmlElement elem;
            while (index < totalElements)
            {
                
                elem = doc.CreateElement("MyElement");
                elem.SetAttribute("Index", index.ToString());
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateTextNode(String.Format
                    ("MyElement at position {0}.", index)));
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                root.AppendChild(elem);
                root.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                index++;
            }
            doc.AppendChild(root);
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            doc.Save(sourcePath);
            elem = null;
            root = null;
            doc = null;
        }
        //
        // Displays FullName, CreationTime, and LastWriteTime of the supplied
        // FileInfo instance, then displays the text of the file.
        //
        private static void DisplayFileProperties(FileInfo fInfo)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("The FileInfo instance shows these property values.");
            StreamReader reader = null;
            try
            {
                Console.Write("FullName: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.FullName);
                Console.Write("CreationTime: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.CreationTime);
                Console.Write("LastWriteTime: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.LastWriteTime);
                Console.WriteLine();
                Console.WriteLine("File contents:");
                Console.WriteLine();
                reader = new StreamReader(fInfo.FullName);
                while (!reader.EndOfStream)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadLine());
                }
                Console.WriteLine();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                if (reader != null)
                {
                    reader.Close();
                }
                reader = null;
            }
        }
        //
        // Deletes the test directory and all its files and subdirectories.
        //
        private static void DeleteFiles()
        {
            try
            {
                DirectoryInfo dInfo = new DirectoryInfo(Environment.GetFolderPath
                    (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) + "\\FileInfoTestDirectory");
                if (dInfo.Exists)
                {
                    dInfo.Delete(true);
                    Console.WriteLine("Successfully deleted directories and files.");
                }
                dInfo = null;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
        }
        //
        // Displays information about the supplied Exception. This
        // code is not suitable for production applications.
        //
        private static void DisplayException(Exception ex)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            sb.Append("An exception of type \"");
            sb.Append(ex.GetType().FullName);
            sb.Append("\" has occurred.\r\n");
            sb.Append(ex.Message);
            sb.Append("\r\nStack trace information:\r\n");
            MatchCollection matchCol = Regex.Matches(ex.StackTrace,
@"(at\s)(.+)(\.)([^\.]*)(\()([^\)]*)(\))((\sin\s)(.+)(:line )([\d]*))?");
            int L = matchCol.Count;
            string[] argList;
            Match matchObj;
            int y, K;
            for(int x = 0; x < L; x++)
            {
                matchObj = matchCol[x];
                sb.Append(matchObj.Result("\r\n\r\n$1 $2$3$4$5"));
                argList = matchObj.Groups[6].Value.Split(new char[] { ',' });
                K = argList.Length;
                for (y = 0; y < K; y++)
                {
                    sb.Append("\r\n    ");
                    sb.Append(argList[y].Trim().Replace(" ", "        "));
                    sb.Append(',');
                }
                sb.Remove(sb.Length - 1, 1);
                sb.Append("\r\n)");
                if (0 < matchObj.Groups[8].Length)
                {
                    sb.Append(matchObj.Result("\r\n$10\r\nline $12"));
                }
            }
            argList = null;
            matchObj = null;
            matchCol = null;
            Console.WriteLine(sb.ToString());
            sb = null;
        }
    }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following;
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
// Welcome.
// This application demonstrates the FileInfo.MoveTo method.
// Press any key to start.
//
//     Checking whether C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml exists.
// Creating file C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml.
// Adding data to the file.
// Successfully created the file.
// The FileInfo instance shows these property values.
// FullName: C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml
// CreationTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
// LastWriteTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
//
// File contents:
//
// <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
// <MyElement Index="0">
// MyElement at position 0.
// <MyElement Index="1">
// MyElement at position 1.
// <MyElement Index="2">
// MyElement at position 2.
// <MyElement Index="3">
// MyElement at position 3.
// <MyElement Index="4">
// MyElement at position 4.
// <MyElement Index="5">
// MyElement at position 5.
// <MyElement Index="6">
// MyElement at position 6.
// <MyElement Index="7">
// MyElement at position 7.
// <MyElement Index="8">
// MyElement at position 8.
// <MyElement Index="9">
// MyElement at position 9.

// Preparing to move the file to
// C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml.
// File moved to
// C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml
// The FileInfo instance shows these property values.
// FullName: C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml
// CreationTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
// LastWriteTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
//
// File contents:
//
// <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
// <MyElement Index="0">
// MyElement at position 0.
// <MyElement Index="1">
// MyElement at position 1.
// <MyElement Index="2">
// MyElement at position 2.
// <MyElement Index="3">
// MyElement at position 3.
// <MyElement Index="4">
// MyElement at position 4.
// <MyElement Index="5">
// MyElement at position 5.
// <MyElement Index="6">
// MyElement at position 6.
// <MyElement Index="7">
// MyElement at position 7.
// <MyElement Index="8">
// MyElement at position 8.
// <MyElement Index="9">
// MyElement at position 9.
//
// Preparing to delete directories.
// Successfully deleted directories and files.
// Press the ENTER key to close this application.

Remarks

This method works across disk volumes. For example, the file c:\MyFile.txt can be moved to d:\public and renamed NewFile.txt.

This method does not overwrite the destination file if it already exists. For that purpose, call MoveTo(String, Boolean) instead.

See also

• File and Stream I/O
• How to: Read Text from a File
• How to: Write Text to a File

MoveTo(String, Boolean)

Source:

FileInfo.cs

Moves a specified file to a new location, providing the options to specify a new file name and to overwrite the destination file if it already exists.

C#

public void MoveTo(string destFileName, bool overwrite);

Parameters

destFileName

String

The path to move the file to, which can specify a different file name.

overwrite

Boolean

true to overwrite the destination file if it already exists; false otherwise.

Exceptions

IOException

An I/O error occurred, such as the destination device is not ready.

ArgumentNullException

destFileName is null.

ArgumentException

.NET Framework and .NET Core versions older than 2.1: destFileName is empty, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters.

SecurityException

The caller does not have the required permission.

UnauthorizedAccessException

destFileName is read-only or is a directory.

FileNotFoundException

The file is not found.

DirectoryNotFoundException

The specified path is invalid, such as being on an unmapped drive.

PathTooLongException

The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length.

NotSupportedException

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

Examples

The following example demonstrates moving a file to a different location and renaming the file.

C#

using System;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.IO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Text;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
using System.Xml;

namespace Microsoft.Samples.MoveTo.CS
{
    class Program
    {
        private static string sourcePath = Environment.GetFolderPath
            (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) +
            @"\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml";
        
        private static string destPath = Environment.GetFolderPath
            (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) +
            @"\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml";
        //
        // The main entry point for the application.
        //
        [STAThread()] static void Main ()
        {
            // Change Console properties to make it obvious that
            // the application is starting.
            Console.Clear();
            // Move it to the upper left corner of the screen.
            Console.SetWindowPosition(0, 0);
            // Make it very large.
            Console.SetWindowSize(Console.LargestWindowWidth - 24,
                Console.LargestWindowHeight - 16);
            Console.WriteLine("Welcome.");
            Console.WriteLine("This application demonstrates the FileInfo.MoveTo method.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press any key to start.");
            string s = Console.ReadLine();
            Console.Write("    Checking whether ");
            Console.Write(sourcePath);
            Console.WriteLine(" exists.");
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo (sourcePath);
            EnsureSourceFileExists();
            DisplayFileProperties(fInfo);
            Console.WriteLine("Preparing to move the file to ");
            Console.Write(destPath);
            Console.WriteLine(".");
            MoveFile(fInfo);
            DisplayFileProperties(fInfo);
            Console.WriteLine("Preparing to delete directories.");
            DeleteFiles();
            Console.WriteLine("Press the ENTER key to close this application.");
            s = Console.ReadLine();
        }
        //
        // Moves the supplied FileInfo instance to destPath.
        //
        private static void MoveFile(FileInfo fInfo)
        {
            try
            {
                fInfo.MoveTo(destPath);
                Console.WriteLine("File moved to ");
                Console.WriteLine(destPath);
            } catch (Exception ex) {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
        }
        //
        // Ensures that the test directories
        // and the file FromFile.xml all exist.
        //
        private static void EnsureSourceFileExists()
        {
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo(sourcePath);
            string dirPath = fInfo.Directory.FullName;
            if (!Directory.Exists(dirPath))
            {
                Directory.CreateDirectory(dirPath);
            }
            if (File.Exists(destPath))
            {
                File.Delete(destPath);
            }
            Console.Write("Creating file ");
            Console.Write(fInfo.FullName);
            Console.WriteLine(".");
            try
            {
                if (!fInfo.Exists)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Adding data to the file.");
                    WriteFileContent(10);
                    Console.WriteLine("Successfully created the file.");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                dirPath = null;
            }
        }
        //
        // Creates and saves an Xml file to sourcePath.
        //
        private static void WriteFileContent(int totalElements)
        {
            XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
            doc.PreserveWhitespace = true;
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateXmlDeclaration("1.0", null, "yes"));
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            XmlElement root = doc.CreateElement("FileInfo.MoveTo");
            root.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            int index = 0;
            XmlElement elem;
            while (index < totalElements)
            {
                
                elem = doc.CreateElement("MyElement");
                elem.SetAttribute("Index", index.ToString());
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateTextNode(String.Format
                    ("MyElement at position {0}.", index)));
                elem.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                root.AppendChild(elem);
                root.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
                index++;
            }
            doc.AppendChild(root);
            doc.AppendChild(doc.CreateWhitespace("\r\n"));
            doc.Save(sourcePath);
            elem = null;
            root = null;
            doc = null;
        }
        //
        // Displays FullName, CreationTime, and LastWriteTime of the supplied
        // FileInfo instance, then displays the text of the file.
        //
        private static void DisplayFileProperties(FileInfo fInfo)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("The FileInfo instance shows these property values.");
            StreamReader reader = null;
            try
            {
                Console.Write("FullName: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.FullName);
                Console.Write("CreationTime: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.CreationTime);
                Console.Write("LastWriteTime: ");
                Console.WriteLine(fInfo.LastWriteTime);
                Console.WriteLine();
                Console.WriteLine("File contents:");
                Console.WriteLine();
                reader = new StreamReader(fInfo.FullName);
                while (!reader.EndOfStream)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadLine());
                }
                Console.WriteLine();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                if (reader != null)
                {
                    reader.Close();
                }
                reader = null;
            }
        }
        //
        // Deletes the test directory and all its files and subdirectories.
        //
        private static void DeleteFiles()
        {
            try
            {
                DirectoryInfo dInfo = new DirectoryInfo(Environment.GetFolderPath
                    (Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) + "\\FileInfoTestDirectory");
                if (dInfo.Exists)
                {
                    dInfo.Delete(true);
                    Console.WriteLine("Successfully deleted directories and files.");
                }
                dInfo = null;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                DisplayException(ex);
            }
        }
        //
        // Displays information about the supplied Exception. This
        // code is not suitable for production applications.
        //
        private static void DisplayException(Exception ex)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            sb.Append("An exception of type \"");
            sb.Append(ex.GetType().FullName);
            sb.Append("\" has occurred.\r\n");
            sb.Append(ex.Message);
            sb.Append("\r\nStack trace information:\r\n");
            MatchCollection matchCol = Regex.Matches(ex.StackTrace,
@"(at\s)(.+)(\.)([^\.]*)(\()([^\)]*)(\))((\sin\s)(.+)(:line )([\d]*))?");
            int L = matchCol.Count;
            string[] argList;
            Match matchObj;
            int y, K;
            for(int x = 0; x < L; x++)
            {
                matchObj = matchCol[x];
                sb.Append(matchObj.Result("\r\n\r\n$1 $2$3$4$5"));
                argList = matchObj.Groups[6].Value.Split(new char[] { ',' });
                K = argList.Length;
                for (y = 0; y < K; y++)
                {
                    sb.Append("\r\n    ");
                    sb.Append(argList[y].Trim().Replace(" ", "        "));
                    sb.Append(',');
                }
                sb.Remove(sb.Length - 1, 1);
                sb.Append("\r\n)");
                if (0 < matchObj.Groups[8].Length)
                {
                    sb.Append(matchObj.Result("\r\n$10\r\nline $12"));
                }
            }
            argList = null;
            matchObj = null;
            matchCol = null;
            Console.WriteLine(sb.ToString());
            sb = null;
        }
    }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following;
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
// Welcome.
// This application demonstrates the FileInfo.MoveTo method.
// Press any key to start.
//
//     Checking whether C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml exists.
// Creating file C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml.
// Adding data to the file.
// Successfully created the file.
// The FileInfo instance shows these property values.
// FullName: C:\Documents and Settings\MyComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\MoveFrom\FromFile.xml
// CreationTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
// LastWriteTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
//
// File contents:
//
// <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
// <MyElement Index="0">
// MyElement at position 0.
// <MyElement Index="1">
// MyElement at position 1.
// <MyElement Index="2">
// MyElement at position 2.
// <MyElement Index="3">
// MyElement at position 3.
// <MyElement Index="4">
// MyElement at position 4.
// <MyElement Index="5">
// MyElement at position 5.
// <MyElement Index="6">
// MyElement at position 6.
// <MyElement Index="7">
// MyElement at position 7.
// <MyElement Index="8">
// MyElement at position 8.
// <MyElement Index="9">
// MyElement at position 9.

// Preparing to move the file to
// C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml.
// File moved to
// C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml
// The FileInfo instance shows these property values.
// FullName: C:\Documents and Settings\MYComputer\My Documents\FileInfoTestDirectory\DestFile.xml
// CreationTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
// LastWriteTime: 4/18/2006 1:24:19 PM
//
// File contents:
//
// <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
// <MyElement Index="0">
// MyElement at position 0.
// <MyElement Index="1">
// MyElement at position 1.
// <MyElement Index="2">
// MyElement at position 2.
// <MyElement Index="3">
// MyElement at position 3.
// <MyElement Index="4">
// MyElement at position 4.
// <MyElement Index="5">
// MyElement at position 5.
// <MyElement Index="6">
// MyElement at position 6.
// <MyElement Index="7">
// MyElement at position 7.
// <MyElement Index="8">
// MyElement at position 8.
// <MyElement Index="9">
// MyElement at position 9.
//
// Preparing to delete directories.
// Successfully deleted directories and files.
// Press the ENTER key to close this application.

Remarks

This method works across disk volumes. For example, the file c:\MyFile.txt can be moved to d:\public and renamed NewFile.txt.

See also

• File and Stream I/O
• How to: Read Text from a File
• How to: Write Text to a File