Copying files might seem like a basic task, but the Windows copy command takes this task to new heights. If you’re aiming to replicate files with precision with a single command, the copy command is your go-to tool. In this article, we will explore the mechanics of this command, from its core syntax to hands-on demonstrations that showcase its power. To see the Copy command in action and learn more about its practical applications, you can watch the following YouTube video:

Syntax

The fundamental structure of the copy command is elegantly simple:

copy [options] [source] [destination]
destination  Specifies the directory and/or filename for the new file(s).

options:

source       Specifies the file or files to be copied. 
/A           Indicates an ASCII text file.
/B           Indicates a binary file.
/D           Allow the destination file to be created decrypted  destination  Specifies the directory and/or filename for the new file(s).
/V           Verifies that new files are written correctly.
/N           Uses short filename, if available, when copying a file with a
             non-8dot3 name.
/Y           Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
             existing destination file.
/-Y          Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
             existing destination file.
/Z           Copies networked files in restartable mode.
/L           If the source is a symbolic link, copy the link to the target
             instead of the actual file the source link points to.

Copying Files: Copying files is the bread and butter of the copy command. For instance:

copy file.txt C:\NewFolder\

As you can see above I have copied the file demo.txt just with a single command. But with copy command we can do much more like we can also rename the file at the same time as copiying it as shown in below example.

copying two files into one: Using copy command we can also copy two files into one new file having the content of both files concatenated. To do thid we have to use ‘+’ in between the two files to be copied.

copy file1 + file2 newfile

Conclusion

So, that’s the copy command demystified! A simple command with big results. From copying files to combining files to create a new file, it’s your trusty companion in the Windows command line. Now you’re armed with the know-how to zip through file management like a pro. For more articles like this visit our site at Batch-man, you can also join our Discord and YouTube community. Thank you for reading this article. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to leave them below.