xcopy vs copy : Java Glossary

What is the difference between the xcopy and copy utilities built-in to Windows? xcopy.exe is an external command. Copy is a built-into the command interpreter and also TCC (Take Command Command line). Normally you use xcopy for copying entire directories or directory trees. copy is for copying some files in a single directory, though tcc copy can also copy trees.

Copy can be used to concatenate, xcopy cannot.

Put a trailing \ on directory names so the utility does not have to guess if it is directory or file.

Take Command Copy

In TCC, copy has almost 30 command line switches. The ones I find most useful are:

• /C update target only if source is newer.
• /Q quiet. Just copy.
• /S recurse directories.
• /U update target only if source is newer, of if file is missing in target.
• /UF update target only if source is 2 seconds newer, or if file is missing in target.
• /W delete files in target that do not have matches in source.

Microsoft copy does not support any of those switches.