How to a copy text file without overwrite existing file?

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I want to copy a text file from one location to another without overwrite existing file and it should be renamed to different file name when we copy it to another location like file1.txt, file2.txt... Plz tell me how to do it. I am using windows application c#.net. Thanx in advance...

Posted 28-Jun-13 23:05pm

Pankaj Mahor

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[no name] 29-Jun-13 5:27am

File.Copy(string sourceFileName, string destFileName)

BillWoodruff 30-Jun-13 16:52pm

@Member 9781851: Quit messing around, and study the excellent code examples OriginalGriff has posted here. Edit your original post to reflect exactly what your current Windows Application is, and exactly what you want to do.

2 solutions

Solution 1

Hello,

Please have a look this[^] MSDN Documentation. You will basically be using File.Copy API. As far as finding the unique name in the destination is concerned you can use code similar to one shown below

C#

public string getDestFile(string srcFile, string destDir) {
    int cntr = 1;

    int pos = strFile.LastIndexOf(".");
    string fName = srcFile.SubString(0, pos - 1);
    string strExt = srcFile.SubString(pos + 1);
    string destName = fName + "-" + cntr + "." + strExt;
    while (!File.Exists(Path.Combine(new String[] {destDir, destPath}))) {
        cntr++;
        destName = fName + "-" + cntr + "." + strExt;
    }
    return destName;
}

Regards,

Posted 28-Jun-13 23:27pm

Prasad Khandekar

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-28T23:40:00

Solution 2

First, check if the file exists - that's trivial:

C#

if (File.Exists(path))
   {
   ...
   }

Finding the next free number is more complex:

C#

    ...
    string path = @"D:\Temp\myPic.jpg";
    string pathOnly = path.Substring(0, path.LastIndexOf('\\'));
    string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(pathOnly, Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path) + "*" + Path.GetExtension(path));

    int x = files.Max(f => GetFileNumber(f));
    ...

private Regex fileNumber = new Regex("\\d+$");
private int GetFileNumber(string file)
    {
    Match m = fileNumber.Match(Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(file));
    if (!m.Success) return 0;
    return int.Parse(m.Value);
    }

You can then use File.Move to rename the file!

"Ok, i have checked that link and its so complicated code. Can you plz give me any other code to do it easily? I need to rename file and add number to filename like mytext1.txt, mytext2.txt. Plz help."

That isn't complicated at all! :laugh:
If you're a beginner, then in future please say - it allows us to talk differently to you, allowing for your lack of experience.

The code is pretty simple, the only complicated parts are the Regex (if you haven't met them, they are just string "find and replace" on steroids!) and the line using the Linq Max extension and a lambda expression - just ignore them both for the moment.

If you treat the code as a "black box" method you can call from your code, then it's pretty simple to do what you want: just call the method GetFreeFileNumber with the path to where you want to save the file.

The whole code is not complex:

C#

private void Mybutton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
    string newFile = @"D:\MyPic.jpg";
    string destName = @"D:\Temp\MyPic.jpg";
    if (File.Exists(destName))
        {
        string destNameWithNumber = GetFreeFileNumber(destName);
        File.Move(destName, destNameWithNumber);
        }
    File.Copy(newFile, destName);
    }

/// <summary>
/// Find the number at the end of the string
/// </summary>
private Regex fileNumber = new Regex("\\d+$", RegexOptions.Compiled);
/// <summary>
/// Get the next free file number given a base file name
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path to base file</param>
/// <returns>Path to free file name</returns>
private string GetFreeFileNumber(string path)
    {
    string pathOnly = path.Substring(0, path.LastIndexOf('\\') + 1);
    string nameOnly = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path);
    string extOnly = Path.GetExtension(path);
    string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(pathOnly, nameOnly + "*" + extOnly);
    int largest = files.Max(f => GetFileNumber(f));
    return string.Format("{0}{1}{2}{3}", pathOnly, nameOnly, largest + 1, extOnly);
    }
/// <summary>
/// Get the number (if any) at the end of a filename
/// </summary>
/// <param name="file"></param>
/// <returns></returns>
private int GetFileNumber(string file)
    {
    Match m = fileNumber.Match(Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(file));
    if (!m.Success) return 0;
    return int.Parse(m.Value);
    }

To copy D:\MyPic.jpg to D:\Temp\ with numeric backups, that's all you have to do...

Posted 28-Jun-13 23:40pm

OriginalGriff

Updated 30-Jun-13 2:07am

v2

Comments

Pankaj Mahor 29-Jun-13 6:43am

I already have a file and i am using two textboxes one to get source file and second to place file on a destination folder. I cant understand your code. Plz give any other solution.

OriginalGriff 29-Jun-13 7:10am

You need to check if the source file exists in the destination: so use File.Exists. If it doesn't, then you can just copy it over.
If it does, then the way I would do it is to rename the file of the same name to filen and then copy the source file over.
So, if the source is called myFile.txt:
If destination has no file called myFile.txt, then just copy it over.
Other wise, find the highest numbered file called myFilenn.txt. For example, if the destination folder contained:
myFile.txt
myFile1.txt
myFile2.txt
...
myFile76.txt
it would mean finding the file called "myFile76.txt" and renaming "myFile.txt" to "myFile77.txt" then copying the source file over.
This way, the latest version always has the same name as the source and is easy to find.
There is an explanation of how this code works in a Tip I wrote this morning:
http://www.codeproject.com/Tips/613449/Finding-a-free-file-name-and-number-combination

Pankaj Mahor 29-Jun-13 10:18am

Here is the link that describe what i want to do but problem is i am getting error on fileupload stament-
http://naspinski.net/post/Saving-multiple-files-of-the-same-name.aspx

OriginalGriff 30-Jun-13 4:22am

Hang on a moment - "fileupload stament"? You said this is a Windows Application - why are you trying to use FileUpload controls in a Win App?

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 0:04am

Plz reply.

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 4:59am

Because it is in the post in that link. And its a windows application.

OriginalGriff 30-Jun-13 5:06am

The link is not to a Windows application - it is is web application, and it uses a FileUpload Control because that is the only way to access the files on a client PC.
If you are writing a Windows application, then you can't (and don't want to) use a FileUpload control.

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 5:23am

Thanx for the info. I did not notice it. Now plz tell me how to do it in windows application?

OriginalGriff 30-Jun-13 5:51am

If you look at the tip I linked to it explains the code I suggested - if you want to use a different format for the file numbers (i.e. name[number].ext) then all you have to do is change the regex and the string.Format line, then use File.Move

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 6:22am

Ok, i have checked that link and its so complicated code. Can you plz give me any other code to do it easily? I need to rename file and add number to filename like mytext1.txt, mytext2.txt. Plz help.

OriginalGriff 30-Jun-13 8:07am

Answer updated.

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 9:38am

Thanx a lot for the code. But as i said, i am using two textboxes. How can i use your code with textboxes?

OriginalGriff 30-Jun-13 9:59am

What have you got in the textboxes? What do you expect to do with them?
(And if it's paths to file, why are you using text boxes instead of OpenFileDialog or FolderBrowserDialog?)

Pankaj Mahor 30-Jun-13 11:02am

Ok, here is the details- first i have created a windows application in c#.net. On the form, i have placed a textbox1 control which is assigned with openfiledialog1 control to browse for the file(source file) (named test.txt), and then placed a another textbox2 control on the form which is assigned with folderbrowser control to browse for the destination path (where test.txt will be copied). I also place a button control when it clicked, the test.txt file should be copied to the specified destination path. Please note that i also placed two other button controls-one is for textbox1(when clicked, openfiledialog will appear) and second is for textbox2(when clicked, folder browser window will appear). Now plz tell me if you want any other info.

OriginalGriff 1-Jul-13 4:50am

So, all you have to do is look at where I create
string newFile = @"D:\MyPic.jpg";
string destName = @"D:\Temp\MyPic.jpg";
and replace the fixed strings with the textbox content: newFile can be the full path to the test.txt file, and destName can be the folder from the other textbox with the filename alone from test.txt tagged on the end.
You can extract the filename from the full path using Path.GetFilename (which returns the name and extension only from a specified path), then all you have to do is make sure you have a single '\' between the destination path and the filename (Check: does the path in the second textbox end with '\'?)

You should be able to do that without too much trouble: I don't want to spoon feed you the code, because I'm pretty certain you can cope with it with a little bit of thinking.

BillWoodruff 30-Jun-13 16:50pm

@OriginalGriff: You have just been awarded the "CP Patience of the Year" Award ! appreciatively, Bill

OriginalGriff 1-Jul-13 4:51am

:laugh:
What do you think I am, a Doctor? ;)

Pankaj Mahor 1-Jul-13 5:02am

Hurray, code working greate. Thanx once again.

OriginalGriff 1-Jul-13 5:31am

You're welcome!

Pankaj Mahor 20-Jun-14 12:22pm

One more question, how can i use this code for embedded text file as a source file?