copy

The copy command allows users to copy one or more files to an alternate location.

Windows Vista and later syntax

COPY [/D] [/V] [/N] [/Y | /-Y] [/Z] [/L] [/A | /B ] source [/A | /B] [+ source [/A | /B] [+ ...]] 
[destination [/A | /B]]

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable. This setting may be overridden with /-Y on the command line. The default is to prompt on overwrites unless COPY command is being executed from within a batch script.

To append files, specify a single file for destination, but multiple files for source (using wildcards or file1+file2+file3 format).

Windows XP and earlier syntax

COPY [/A | /B] source [/A | /B] [+ source [/A | /B] [+ ...]] [destination] [/A | /B]] [/V] [/Y | /-Y]

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable. This setting may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

To append files, specify a single file for destination, but multiple files for source (using wildcards or file1+file2+file3 format).

copy *.txt c:\

In the example above, we are using a wildcard to copy all .txt files (multiple files) from the current directory to the c:\ root directory.

copy *.* a:

Copy all files in the current directory to the floppy disk drive.

copy autoexec.bat c:\windows

Copy the autoexec.bat, usually found at root, and copy it into the Windows directory; the autoexec.bat can be substituted for any file(s).

copy win.ini c:\windows /y

Copy the win.ini file in the current directory to the Windows directory. Because this file already exists in the Windows directory it normally would prompt if you want to overwrite the file. However, with the /y switch you will not receive any prompt.

copy "computer hope.txt" hope

Copy the file "computer hope.txt" into the hope directory. Whenever you are dealing with a file or directory with a space, it must be surrounded with quotes. Otherwise, you'll get the "Getting "The syntax of the command is incorrect." error." error.

copy myfile1.txt+myfile2.txt

Copy the contents in myfile2.txt and combines it with the contents in myfile1.txt.

copy con test.txt

Finally, a user can create a file using the copy con command as shown above, which creates the test.txt file. Once the above command is typed in, a user could type in whatever he or she wishes. When you have completed creating the file, you can save and exit the file by pressing Ctrl+Z, which would create ^Z, and then press Enter. An easier way to view and edit files in MS-DOS would be to use the edit command.