C# File.Copy Examples

Make a duplicate of a file with the File.Copy method in the System.IO namespace.

File.Copy copies a file from one location to another. It leaves both copies on the disk. It is part of the System.IO namespace. We break down 3 common uses of File.Copy. We warn of potential errors.File

Example. Here we want to copy one file to a new location, one where no file exists. This is straightforward and you will see that both files in the example, file-a.txt and file-new.txt, have the same contents.

Next: This program takes a file that exists, file-a.txt, and copies it to file-new.txt. Both files contain the same string.

And: It displays the contents of both files, using Console.WriteLine and File.ReadAllText, to prove equality.

C# program that uses File.Copy using System; using System.IO; class Program { static void Main() { // Copy one file to a nonexistent location File.Copy("file-a.txt", "file-new.txt"); // Display the contents of both files Console.WriteLine(File.ReadAllText("file-a.txt")); Console.WriteLine(File.ReadAllText("file-new.txt")); } } Output Contents of File A. Contents of File A.

Example 2. We find that File.Copy will cause an exception if you use it when the target destination already has a file there. To solve this problem, you must specify the third parameter of File.Copy to be true.

Here: The example displays the contents of file-b.txt. Then it calls File.Copy and copies file-a.txt to file-b.txt.

Note: No exception is thrown here. The code displays the contents of the two files, which are now equal.

C# program that uses File.Copy parameters using System; using System.IO; class Program { static void Main() { // Write initial contents of File B. Console.WriteLine(File.ReadAllText("file-b.txt")); // "File B contents." // COPY: // Copy one file to a location where there is a file. File.Copy("file-a.txt", "file-b.txt", true); // overwrite = true // Display the contents of both files Console.WriteLine(File.ReadAllText("file-a.txt")); Console.WriteLine(File.ReadAllText("file-b.txt")); } } Output "Contents of File A." "Contents of File A."

Example 3. File.Copy will throw FileNotFoundException and IOException if there are certain problems. It will also throw other exceptions that I do not show here. You will find them annoying enough without my help.FileNotFoundException IOException

Here: The program has two try-catch blocks. It uses File.Copy to copy a missing file. It demonstrates that the FileNotFoundException is thrown.

Try Catch

Next: We get an IOException when we copy to a file that exists, but don't specify overwrite. To specify overwrite, use true as the third parameter.

True, False

Caution: File IO will occasionally throw exceptions. It is one of the best uses for exception-handling.

Tip: You should wrap your File.Copy, as well as other methods such as File.ReadAllText, inside a try-catch block.

File.ReadAllText

C# program that demonstrates File.Copy exceptions using System; using System.IO; class Program { static void Main() { // Copying a file that doesn't exist: try { File.Copy("file-missing.txt", "file-new.txt"); } catch (Exception ex) { Console.WriteLine(ex); // System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not find file 'file-missing.txt'. } // Copying to a file without overwrite try { File.Copy("file-a.txt", "file-b.txt"); } catch (Exception ex) { Console.WriteLine(ex); // System.IO.IOException: The file 'file-b.txt' already exists. } } }

Discussion. The File.Replace combine File.Copy with a deletion of the file. You can duplicate its functionality with File.Copy and then File.Delete. File.Move does a file system rename instead of copying any data.File.Move

Also: More information on exceptions caused by File.Copy and other methods in System.IO is available.

Exception

Summary. Here we saw two useful ways to use File.Copy in the C# language, and saw examples of two ways it can throw exceptions. It is important that you handle errors when using File.Copy, or it may bring down your program.

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C# File.Copy Examples

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