FileInfo.CopyTo Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.IO

Assemblies:: mscorlib.dll, System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assembly:: System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assembly:: System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Copies an existing file to a new file.

Overloads

CopyTo(String)	Copies an existing file to a new file, disallowing the overwriting of an existing file.
CopyTo(String, Boolean)	Copies an existing file to a new file, allowing the overwriting of an existing file.

CopyTo(String)

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

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

public:
 System::IO::FileInfo ^ CopyTo(System::String ^ destFileName);

public System.IO.FileInfo CopyTo (string destFileName);

member this.CopyTo : string -> System.IO.FileInfo

Public Function CopyTo (destFileName As String) As FileInfo

Parameters

destFileName: String

The name of the new file to copy to.

Returns

FileInfo

A new file with a fully qualified path.

Exceptions

ArgumentException

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

IOException

An error occurs, or the destination file already exists.

SecurityException

The caller does not have the required permission.

ArgumentNullException

destFileName is null.

UnauthorizedAccessException

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

DirectoryNotFoundException

The directory specified in destFileName does not exist.

PathTooLongException

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

NotSupportedException

destFileName contains a colon (:) within the string but does not specify the volume.

Examples

The following example demonstrates both overloads of the CopyTo method.

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.

using System;
using System.IO;

class Test
{

    public static void Main()
    {
        string path = @"c:\SoureFile.txt";
        string path2 = @"c:\NewFile.txt";
        FileInfo fi1 = new FileInfo(path);
        FileInfo fi2 = new FileInfo(path2);

        try
        {
            // Create the source file.
            using (FileStream fs = fi1.Create()) { }

            //Ensure that the target file does not exist.
            if (File.Exists(path2))
            {
                fi2.Delete();
            }

            //Copy the file.f
            fi1.CopyTo(path2);
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2);
        }
        catch (IOException ioex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ioex.Message);
        }
    }
}

Imports System.IO

Public Class Test

    Public Shared Sub Main()
        'Specify the directories you want to manipulate.
        Dim path As String = "c:\SourceFile.txt"
        Dim path2 As String = "c:\NewFile.txt"
        Dim fi As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path)
        Dim fi2 As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path2)

        Try
            Using fs As FileStream = fi.Create()
            End Using

            'Ensure that the target does not exist.
            If File.Exists(path2) Then
                fi2.Delete()
            End If
            
            'Copy the file.
            fi.CopyTo(path2)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2)

        Catch ioex As IOException
            Console.WriteLine(ioex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

The following example demonstrates copying one file to another file, throwing an exception if the destination file already exists.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
int main()
{
   try
   {
      
      // 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 file will not be overwritten if it already exists.
      FileInfo^ newfi = fi->CopyTo( "newTemp.txt" );
      
      // 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() );
   }
   catch ( Exception^ e ) 
   {
      Console::WriteLine( e->Message );
   }

}
//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:

using System;
using System.IO;

public class CopyToTest
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        try
        {
            // Create a reference to a file, which might or might not exist.
            // If it does not exist, it is not yet created.
            FileInfo fi = new 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 = new 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 file will not be overwritten if it already exists.
            FileInfo newfi = fi.CopyTo("newTemp.txt");
            // 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());
        }
        catch(Exception e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }
}
//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:
//Add as many lines as you like...
//Add another line to the output...

Imports System.IO

Public Class CopyToTest
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        Try
            ' Create a reference to a file, which might or might not exist.
            ' If it does not exist, it is not yet created.
            Dim fi As New FileInfo("temp.txt")
            ' Create a writer, ready to add entries to the file.
            Dim sw As StreamWriter = 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.
            Dim sr As New StreamReader(fi.OpenRead())
            Console.WriteLine("This is the information in the first file:")
            While sr.Peek() <> -1
                Console.WriteLine(sr.ReadLine())
            End While
            ' Copy this file to another file.
            Dim newfi As FileInfo = fi.CopyTo("newTemp.txt")
            ' 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())
            End While
        Catch e As Exception
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class
'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:
'Add as many lines as you like...
'Add another line to the output...

Remarks

Use the CopyTo(String, Boolean) method to allow overwriting of an existing file.

Caution

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

Applies to

CopyTo(String, Boolean)

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

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

public:
 System::IO::FileInfo ^ CopyTo(System::String ^ destFileName, bool overwrite);

public System.IO.FileInfo CopyTo (string destFileName, bool overwrite);

member this.CopyTo : string * bool -> System.IO.FileInfo

Public Function CopyTo (destFileName As String, overwrite As Boolean) As FileInfo

Parameters

destFileName: String

The name of the new file to copy to.

overwrite: Boolean

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

Returns

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.

Exceptions

ArgumentException

.NET Framework and .NET Core versions older than 2.1: 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.

NotSupportedException

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

Examples

The following example demonstrates both overloads of the CopyTo method.

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.

using System;
using System.IO;

class Test
{

    public static void Main()
    {
        string path = @"c:\SoureFile.txt";
        string path2 = @"c:\NewFile.txt";
        FileInfo fi1 = new FileInfo(path);
        FileInfo fi2 = new FileInfo(path2);

        try
        {
            // Create the source file.
            using (FileStream fs = fi1.Create()) { }

            //Ensure that the target file does not exist.
            if (File.Exists(path2))
            {
                fi2.Delete();
            }

            //Copy the file.f
            fi1.CopyTo(path2);
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2);
        }
        catch (IOException ioex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ioex.Message);
        }
    }
}

Imports System.IO

Public Class Test

    Public Shared Sub Main()
        'Specify the directories you want to manipulate.
        Dim path As String = "c:\SourceFile.txt"
        Dim path2 As String = "c:\NewFile.txt"
        Dim fi As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path)
        Dim fi2 As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path2)

        Try
            Using fs As FileStream = fi.Create()
            End Using

            'Ensure that the target does not exist.
            If File.Exists(path2) Then
                fi2.Delete()
            End If
            
            'Copy the file.
            fi.CopyTo(path2)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2)

        Catch ioex As IOException
            Console.WriteLine(ioex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

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

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:
//

using System;
using System.IO;

public class CopyToTest
{
    public static void 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 = new 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 = new 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...
//Add as many lines as you like...
//Add another line to the output...

//This is the information in the second file:
//Add as many lines as you like...
//Add another line to the output...
//Add as many lines as you like...
//Add another line to the output...

Imports System.IO

Public Class CopyToTest
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' Create a reference to a file, which might or might not exist.
        ' If it does not exist, it is not yet created.
        Dim fi As New FileInfo("temp.txt")
        ' Create a writer, ready to add entries to the file.
        Dim sw As StreamWriter = 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.
        Dim sr As New StreamReader(fi.OpenRead())
        Console.WriteLine("This is the information in the first file:")
        While sr.Peek() <> -1
            Console.WriteLine(sr.ReadLine())
        End While
        ' Copy this file to another file. The true parameter specifies 
        ' that the file will be overwritten if it already exists.
        Dim newfi As FileInfo = 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())
        End While
    End Sub
End Class
'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:
'Add as many lines as you like...
'Add another line to the output...
'

Remarks

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

Caution

Applies to

Share via

FileInfo.CopyTo Method

Definition

Overloads

CopyTo(String)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

See also

Applies to

CopyTo(String, Boolean)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

See also

Applies to

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