CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netfile-io
user1016179
user1016179

Reputation: 629

Rename existing file name

I have the following code which copies a file to a specific folder and then renames it. When a file with that name already exists I get the following exception:

Cannot create a file when that file already exists

Is there a way to overwrite the file and rename it? or I should delete the old one and then change the name?

Here is my code:

 File.Copy(FileLocation, NewFileLocation, true);
 //Rename:
 File.Move(Path.Combine(NewFileLocation, fileName), Path.Combine(NewFileLocation, "File.txt"));

Upvotes: 11

Views: 97237

Answers (6)

MartinZ
MartinZ

Reputation: 325

I always use MoveFileEx with the flag MOVEFILE_REPLACE_EXISTING.

Limitations:

  1. It needs to use PInvoke, so it means your code will only work on the Windows platform.

  2. This flag MOVEFILE_REPLACE_EXISTING only work with File(Doesn't work with Folder)

If lpNewFileName or lpExistingFileName name a directory and lpExistingFileName exists, an error is reported.

Upvotes: -1

Sudhakar Tillapudi
Sudhakar Tillapudi

Reputation: 26209

Step 1 : as a first step identify wether the file exists or not before copying the file.
using File.Exists() method

Step 2: if the file already exists with same name then delete the existing file using File.Delete() method

Step 3: now copy the File into the new Location using File.Copy() method.

Step 4: Rename the newly copied file.

Try This:

string NewFilePath = Path.Combine(NewFileLocation, fileName);
if(File.Exists(NewFilePath))
{ 
File.Delete(NewFilePath);
}

//Now copy the file first
File.Copy(FileLocation, NewFileLocation, true);

//Now Rename the File
File.Move(NewFilePath, Path.Combine(NewFileLocation, "File.txt"));

Upvotes: 2

Only a Curious Mind
Only a Curious Mind

Reputation: 2857

Try to use only:

if (File.Exists("newfilename"))
{
    System.IO.File.Delete("newfilename");
}

System.IO.File.Move("oldfilename", "newfilename");

Upvotes: 29

Brad Christie
Brad Christie

Reputation: 101604

You're correct, File.Move will throw an IOException if/when the filename already exists. So, to overcome that you can perform a quick check before the move. e.g.

if (File.Exists(destinationFilename))
{
    File.Delete(destinationFilename);
}
File.Move(sourceFilename, destinationFilename);

Upvotes: 6

Darren
Darren

Reputation: 70718

You should use File.Exists rather than letting the Exception throw. You can then handle if the file should be overwrote or renamed.

Upvotes: 4

drew_w
drew_w

Reputation: 10430

One simple option is to delete the file if it exists:

if (System.IO.File.Exists(newFile)) System.IO.File.Delete(newFile);
System.IO.File.Move(oldFile, newFile);

Something like that should work.

Upvotes: 8

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