Copy Ü
ßßßßß
Copies a file or files to another location.
This command can be used to combine files. When more than one file is
copied, FreeDOS displays each filename as the file is copied.
Syntax: COPY [/a|/b] source [/a|/b] [+ source [/a|/b] [+ ..]
[destination [/a|/b]] [/v]
source
The file(s) that are to be copied
destination
Where the files are going to be copied to.
/a Indicates an ASCII text file. An /a preceding filenames on the
command line applies to all files that follow it, until copy
encounters a /b, which applies to the file preceding it. An /a
following a filename applies to the file preceding it and to all
files that follow it, until copy encounters /b, which applies to
the file preceding it.
/b Indicates a binary file. A /b preceding filenames on the command
line applies to all files that follow it, until copy encounters
an /a switch, which applies to the file preceding it. A /b
following a filename applies to the file preceding it and to all
files that follow it, until copy encounters an /a, which applies
to the file preceding it.
/v Verifies the new files are written correctly.
Copying to and from devices
You can substitute a device name for one or more occurences of source
or for destination.
Using or omitting the /b switch when copying to a device
When destination is a device (e.g. COM1 or LPT1), /b causes FreeDOS
to copy data to the device in binary mode, in which all characters
(including such special characters as Ctrl+C, Ctrl+S, and Ctrl+Z) are
copied to the device as data. Omission of the /b switch causes
FreeDOS to copy data to the device in ASCII mode, in which such
special characters may cause FreeDOS to take special action during
the copying process.
Using the /v switch
Although recording errors rarely occur with the copy command, the /v
switch lets you verify that critical data has been correctly recorded.
The /v switch also slows down the copy command, because FreeDOS must
check each sector recorded on the disk.
Combining files with the copy command
If you specify more than one source, separating entries with a plus sign
(+), copy combines the files, creating a single file. If you use
wildcards all files matching the filename in destination, copy combines
all files matching the filename in source and creates a single file
with the filename specified in destination. In either case, copy
assumes the combined files are ASCII files unless you specify the /b
switch.
If the name of the destination file is the same as the name of one of
the files being copied (except the first file), the original contents
of the destination file are lost, and copy displays the following
error message:
Content of destination lost before copy
Copying files in subdirectories
To copy all of a directory's files and subdirectories, use the XCopy
command.
Copying zero-length files
Copy does not copy files that are 0 bytes long. Use XCopy to
copy these files.
Changing the time and date of a file
If you want to assign the current time and date to a file without
modifying the file, use a command in the following format. The commas
indicate the omission of the destination parameter:
copy /b source+,,
CAUTION: If you combine binary files, the resulting file may not be
usable due to internal formatting.
See Also:
XCopy