Table of Contents

Method CopyContentTo

Namespace
IOInfoExtensions
Assembly
IOInfoExtensions.dll

CopyContentTo(DirectoryInfo, DirectoryInfo, bool, bool, bool)

Copies the content of the calling DirectoryInfo object to the destination directory.
public static void CopyContentTo(this DirectoryInfo source, DirectoryInfo destination, bool copyEmptyDirectories = false, bool overwrite = false, bool cleanTarget = false)

Remarks

This method copies all the files and directories within the calling DirectoryInfo object to the specified destination directory.

Parameters

source DirectoryInfo
The calling DirectoryInfo object to copy the contents of.
destination DirectoryInfo
The directory to copy all the contents to.
copyEmptyDirectories bool
If set to true empty child directories will be created in the destitnation.
overwrite bool
Overwrite any conflicting files at the destination.
cleanTarget bool
Delete all contents of the destination directory before copying.

Examples

Example 1
Copy files and their directory structures.
var source = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\Demo");
var destination = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\DemoCopy");

Console.WriteLine("Source Children:");
source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine($"Destination Exists:\n\t{destination.Exists}");

Console.WriteLine("Copying content...");
source.CopyContentTo(destination);

Console.WriteLine($"Destination Exists after copy:\n\t{destination.Exists}");
Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

/*
Output:
Source Children:
        C:\Demo\ChildDir1
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2
        C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Exists:
        False
Copying content...
Destination Exists after copy:
        True
Destination Children:
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
*/
$source = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\Demo'
$destination = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\DemoCopy'

Write-Host "Source Children:"
$source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Destination Exists:`n`t$($destination.Exists)"

Write-Host "Copying content..."
$source.CopyContentTo($destination)

Write-Host "Destination Exists after copy:`n`t$($destination.Exists)"
Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

<#
Output:
Source Children:
        C:\Demo\ChildDir1
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2
        C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Exists:
        False
Copying content...
Destination Exists after copy:
        True
Destination Children:
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
#>

This copies all the files and directories within the source directory to the destination directory but does not copy empty directories.

Notice:
- The empty directory ChildDir1 is not copied to the destination.
Example 2
Copies all items, including empty directories.
var source = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\Demo");
var destination = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\DemoCopy");

Console.WriteLine("Source Children:");
source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine($"Destination Exists:\n\t{destination.Exists}");

Console.WriteLine("Copying content...");
source.CopyContentTo(destination, true);

Console.WriteLine($"Destination Exists after copy:\n\t{destination.Exists}");
Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

/*
Output:
Source Children:
        C:\Demo\ChildDir1
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2
        C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Exists:
        False
Copying content...
Destination Exists after copy:
        True
Destination Children:
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir1
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
*/
$source = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\Demo'
$destination = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\DemoCopy'

Write-Host "Source Children:"
$source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Destination Exists:`n`t$($destination.Exists)"

Write-Host "Copying content..."
$source.CopyContentTo($destination, $true)

Write-Host "Destination Exists after copy:`n`t$($destination.Exists)"
Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

<#
Output:
Source Children:
        C:\Demo\ChildDir1
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2
        C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Exists:
        False
Copying content...
Destination Exists after copy:
        True
Destination Children:
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir1
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
        C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
#>

This copies all the files and directories within the source directory to the destination directory.

Notice:
- The empty directory ChildDir1 is copied to the destination.
Example 3
Copy files and their directory structures and overwrites any pre-existing files.
var source = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\Demo");
var destination = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\DemoCopy");

Console.WriteLine("Source Children:");
source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("File Information:");
var files = source.GetFiles().ToList().Concat(destination.GetFiles().ToList()).ToArray();
Console.WriteLine(GetFileTable(files, includeHash: true));

Console.WriteLine("Copying content...");
source.CopyContentTo(destination, false, true);

Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("File Information after copy:");
files = source.GetFiles().ToList().Concat(destination.GetFiles().ToList()).ToArray();
Console.WriteLine(GetFileTable(files, includeHash: true));

/*
Output:
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
File Information:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True BA699672FB60916D72552E903FBB6E7B0C342DD6
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True D66287A7B4BF2DB698341A97B06C8A8FF52661D7
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True FDE4898E14ECB550A6CCE74D06423F50DC2E83E1
Copying content...
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
File Information after copy:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True FDE4898E14ECB550A6CCE74D06423F50DC2E83E1
*/
$source = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\Demo'
$destination = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\DemoCopy'

Write-Host "Source Children:"
$source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "File Information:"
Get-FileTable -Files ($source.GetFiles() + $destination.GetFiles()) -IncludeHash

Write-Host "Copying content..."
$source.CopyContentTo($destination, $false, $true)

Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "File Information after copy:"
Get-FileTable -Files ($source.GetFiles() + $destination.GetFiles()) -IncludeHash

<#
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
File Information:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True 41AC012FA1E8DA02511EEFBA8F5A3B4F0BBE334A
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True ABB5D4DBD1812F92CF357CA7C0652ED66712232D
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True 24164ECDA682E2F8ABEB208672D868A1BA3BCC0E
Copying content...
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
File Information after copy:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True 24164ECDA682E2F8ABEB208672D868A1BA3BCC0E
#>

This copies all the files and directories within the source directory to the destination directory but does not copy empty directories. It will also forcibly overwrite any files that already exist at the destination.

Notice:
- The empty directory ChildDir1 is not copied to the destination.
- The hashes of DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt and DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt now match those from Demo as they were overwritten.
Example 4
Removes all contents of the destination and copies files and their directory structures.
var source = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\Demo");
var destination = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\DemoCopy");

Console.WriteLine("Source Children:");
source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("File Information:");
var files = source.GetFiles().ToList().Concat(destination.GetFiles().ToList()).ToArray();
Console.WriteLine(GetFileTable(files, includeHash: true));

Console.WriteLine("Copying content...");
source.CopyContentTo(destination, false, false, true);

Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("File Information after copy:");
files = source.GetFiles().ToList().Concat(destination.GetFiles().ToList()).ToArray();
Console.WriteLine(GetFileTable(files, includeHash: true));

/*
Output:
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
File Information:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True BA699672FB60916D72552E903FBB6E7B0C342DD6
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True D66287A7B4BF2DB698341A97B06C8A8FF52661D7
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True FDE4898E14ECB550A6CCE74D06423F50DC2E83E1
Copying content...
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
File Information after copy:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True AE7C049181E275A7AAF1E365339DBE888309C7BE
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True 7A403B5B3FA0AA8386DC47AEEC9D03B3EBEB9A6C
*/
$source = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\Demo'
$destination = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\DemoCopy'

Write-Host "Source Children:"
$source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "File Information:"
Get-FileTable -Files ($source.GetFiles() + $destination.GetFiles()) -IncludeHash

Write-Host "Copying content..."
$source.CopyContentTo($destination, $false, $false, $true)

Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "File Information after copy:"
Get-FileTable -Files ($source.GetFiles() + $destination.GetFiles()) -IncludeHash

Remove-DemoDirectory -RootPath 'C:\Demo'
Remove-DemoDirectory -RootPath 'C:\DemoCopy'

<#
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
File Information:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True 41AC012FA1E8DA02511EEFBA8F5A3B4F0BBE334A
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True ABB5D4DBD1812F92CF357CA7C0652ED66712232D
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt   True 24164ECDA682E2F8ABEB208672D868A1BA3BCC0E
Copying content...
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
File Information after copy:
    FullName                   Exists Hash
    --------                   ------ ----
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt       True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt       True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt   True 373FEB01CBFDCB5121502AFFD3DB5504DABACC8F
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt   True D7BB9BC327821EBD985C30F09F2F5B50B5418C79
#>

This will remove all files and directories from the destination before copying all the files and directories within the source directory to the destination directory, but does not copy empty directories.

Notice:
- The empty directory ChildDir1 is not copied to the destination.
- The extraneous file ChildFile3.txt is removed from the destination.
- The use of overwrite would be irrelevant here since all files would be removed prior to the copy starting.
Example 5
Copy the contents to the target with conflicting items while not overwritting or cleaning the target.
var source = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\Demo");
var destination = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\DemoCopy");

Console.WriteLine("Source Children:");
source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("Destination Children:");
destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
    .ToList()
    .ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"\t{x.FullName}"));

Console.WriteLine("Copying content...");
try
{
    source.CopyContentTo(destination, false, false);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    var stringArgs = new[] {
        ex.GetType().ToString(),
        ex.Message,
        ex.StackTrace.Substring(0, ex.StackTrace.IndexOf(Environment.NewLine))
    };

    Console.Error.WriteLine(string.Format("\nError: {0}: {1}\n{2}\n", stringArgs));
}

/*
Output:
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
Copying content...

Error: System.IO.IOException: The file 'C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt' already exists.
    at System.IO.FileSystem.CopyFile(String sourceFullPath, String destFullPath, Boolean overwrite)
*/
$source = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\Demo'
$destination = New-Object System.IO.DirectoryInfo 'C:\DemoCopy'

Write-Host "Source Children:"
$source.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Destination Children:"
$destination.GetFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories).FullName |
    ForEach-Object { Write-Host "`t$_" }

Write-Host "Copying content..."

try
{
    $source.CopyContentTo($destination, $false, $false)
}
catch
{
    $stringArgs = @(
        $_.Exception.GetType().ToString(),
        $_.Exception.Message,
        $_.Exception.StackTrace.Substring(0, $_.Exception.StackTrace.IndexOf([Environment]::NewLine))
    )

    Write-Host ("`nError: {0}: {1}`n{2}`n" -f $stringArgs)
    $error.Clear()
}

<#
Source Children:
    C:\Demo\ChildDir1
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2
    C:\Demo\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\Demo\ChildDir2\ChildFile2.txt
Destination Children:
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile2.txt
    C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile3.txt
Copying content...

Error: System.IO.IOException: The file 'C:\DemoCopy\ChildFile1.txt' already exists.
    at System.IO.FileSystem.CopyFile(String sourceFullPath, String destFullPath, Boolean overwrite)
#>

Throws an exception because the destination directory already contains a file with the same name as one of the source files and both overwrite and cleanTarget are set to false.