Advanced file copying using XXCOPY
Serdar Yegulalp
08.16.2004
Rating: -4.20- (out of 5)
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Many system administrators need a quick-and-dirty way to do mass file copying operations, whether it's from one drive to another or from one computer to another. Usually this is done by simply using Explorer to copy folders by hand, but a utility like XCOPY or Microsoft's ROBOCOPY tool provide a more advanced method to intelligently copy files and folders. Tools like this can copy file metadata (NTFS streams) and perform copy filtering (copying files that meet only certain criteria) far more effectively than simply copying by hand.
The most versatile of these tools is probably XXCOPY, a freeware command-line tool for mass file copying with an extremely broad range of functions:
- Directory synchronization, including synching of subdirectories.
- "Fuzzy file time" copying, which allows for files to be copied within a range of times or dates, or even time zone offsets.
- Backup/archive behaviors, so that files can be copied incrementally or only when dates change.
- Copying files delineated from a text file, including wildcards.
- Control over time/date stamps on files.
- Filtering by file sizes, up to gigabytes.
- Special handlers for network-enabled file copying, such as disabling 8.3 name preservation, and truncation of time values to be compatible with FAT16 volumes.
The documentation for XXCOPY includes many examples of how the program can be used, either as a standalone command or in a batch file. Some common "XXCOPY recipes" include copying only files created today, synchronizing files intelligently to one or more removable drives (i.e., drive-spanning), building comprehensive lists of all files on a volume, removing redundant files and many more.
XXCOPY exists in two versions: a freeware version for standalone computers without the network functions enabled and a professional version that can be used for 60 days with all features enabled. The pro version starts at $40 per computer, and there is a significant discount for licenses in bulk.
Serdar Yegulalp is the editor of the Windows 2000 Power Users Newsletter. Check out his Windows 2000 blog for his latest advice and musings on the world of Windows network administrators!
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