How to copy a file to a directory in DOS, and create directories if necessary?

How can I copy a file using DOS commands into a directory structure that may not yet exist? I need to be able to force the creation of the directory path to the target file location if that location doesn't already exist.

For example, there is already a file.txt in this location:

C:\file.txt

And I want to copy it to

C:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file\file.txt

but at this time

C:\example\

and all the subdirectories may or may not yet exist.

Basically, I am looking for a "copy and create the target path if necessary" command. What would you recommend is the best way to achieve this?

nodmonkey

Posted 2010-03-12T17:07:11.310

Reputation: 393

you can call it the cmd prompt – barlop – 2015-01-08T22:49:04.387

Why was this migrated from StackOverflow? This is about programming, so doesn't it belong there? – NewSites – 2019-08-30T12:52:29.470

Is this question actually about DOS (or MS-DOS), or is it about the command line found in NT based Windows versions (2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, Server)? – Bob – 2012-06-21T13:34:16.973

I meant the DOS-like Windows CLI. What do you recommend is the best way to describe "DOS-like Windows CLI" for the post title? – nodmonkey – 2012-06-24T08:11:55.930

Generally, I would use Windows command line in the title/body, along with the tags [tag:windows] and [tag:command-line] (note that [tag:cmd.exe] is a tag synonym of [tag:command-line]). The tag [tag:ms-dos] should be removed; and the tag [tag:dos] should not be used at all under any circumstances. – Bob – 2012-06-24T09:13:33.303

However, in this case, with the existing/accepted answers being for DOS/MS-DOS, you may as well leave it as-is. For future reference, DOS is/should be interpreted as the operating system(s). While the Windows command line is based on them, there are some notable differences. – Bob – 2012-06-24T09:15:45.080

Answers

Yeah, that's xcopy. Here's what it'll look like:

xcopy file.txt c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file\file.txt

XCOPY info at

You might also want to look into ROBOCOPY, in the XP resource kit and standard in Vista, Windows 7, and Server 2008.

robocopy . c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file file.txt

b w

Posted 2010-03-12T17:07:11.310

Reputation: 2 424

4See the other answer - use a preceding echo f | with xcopy to answer this prompt automatically. – mcw – 2014-08-21T20:18:09.240

Note that there should be a slash character, \, on the end of the destination path. Otherwise the command will prompt the user about whether the destination is a dir or a file if it doesn't exist. – Lii – 2018-09-24T09:17:51.313

3xcopy is fine if you don't need to also rename your file. If you do, unfortunately xcopy will ask you whether the destination is a directory or a filename and there is no command-line switch to specify "it's a file". – RomanSt – 2014-04-30T01:59:39.380

I tried using something like:

xcopy file.txt c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file\file.txt

But it would ask me if it was a file or directory. Since I had that in a batch file with 40000 files, it would be impractical. This solution only solves partially my problem: it creates the directory structure, but it requires user interaction. I found the solution to my problem here:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4283312/batch-file-asks-for-file-or-folder

Which is basically to add a "*" at the end of the destination file:

xcopy file.txt c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file\file.txt*

EDIT: as pointed by @romkyns, it may have undesired results if you have files that have the same name plus something else (like 'file.txt.bak'). In the same thread posted above, another solution that works is piping "echo f" to your command:

echo f | xcopy file.txt c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file\file.txt

Where you should substitute the "f" for whatever letter your system uses for file, in case you're using it in another language..

msb

Posted 2010-03-12T17:07:11.310

Reputation: 1 167

1With echo f |, you no longer need the trailing *. – mcw – 2014-08-21T20:20:10.553

1The second filename is redundant in case that it is the same. "xcopy file.txt c:\example\new\path\to\copy\of\file" will work as long as the trailing slash in the directory is there (otherwise it asks if either a file or a directory weas meant). – FourtyTwo – 2016-06-22T13:51:41.360

1Which only works if there is no file.txt.bak in the directory, of course. Still, this might work in some scenarios. – RomanSt – 2014-04-29T13:29:59.327

@romkyns true. a few months after I posted this, I faced myself with the same problem and did the "echo f" solution, it works great as well. Editing my answer... – msb – 2014-04-29T20:56:25.863

DOS, wow! Anyway you use the XCOPY command.

Dustin Laine

Posted 2010-03-12T17:07:11.310

Reputation: 213

14 years on: yup. DOS we all still use it even though PowerShell exists.. – Mr AH – 2014-10-03T00:04:21.607

Whether using copy or xCopy, in order to avoid an error from copy or a prompt from xCopy, test for the existence of the needed folder and create it if necessary:

if not exist "NewPath" MkDir "NewPath"
copy "[path\]file.ext" "NewPath[\NewFileName.ext]"

or combine the commands with && on one command line:

if not exist "NewPath" MkDir "NewPath" && copy "[path\]file.ext" "NewPath[\NewFileName.ext]"

The same thing can be done with move instead of copy. I learned about this technique from a StackOverflow answer about how to do it with move.

NewSites

Posted 2010-03-12T17:07:11.310

Reputation: 335