function file_copy

Copies a file to a new location and adds a file record to the database.

This function should be used when manipulating files that have records stored in the database. This is a powerful function that in many ways performs like an advanced version of copy().

  • Checks if $source and $destination are valid and readable/writable.
  • If file already exists in $destination either the call will error out, replace the file or rename the file based on the $replace parameter.
  • If the $source and $destination are equal, the behavior depends on the $replace parameter. FILE_EXISTS_REPLACE will error out. FILE_EXISTS_RENAME will rename the file until the $destination is unique.
  • Adds the new file to the files database. If the source file is a temporary file, the resulting file will also be a temporary file. See file_save_upload() for details on temporary files.

Parameters

$source: A file object.

$destination: A string containing the destination that $source should be copied to. This must be a stream wrapper URI.

$replace: Replace behavior when the destination file already exists:

  • FILE_EXISTS_REPLACE - Replace the existing file. If a managed file with the destination name exists then its database entry will be updated. If no database entry is found then a new one will be created.
  • FILE_EXISTS_RENAME - Append _{incrementing number} until the filename is unique.
  • FILE_EXISTS_ERROR - Do nothing and return FALSE.

Return value

File object if the copy is successful, or FALSE in the event of an error.

See also

file_unmanaged_copy()

hook_file_copy()

Related topics

6 calls to file_copy()
FileCopyTest::testExistingError in drupal/modules/simpletest/tests/file.test
Test that copying over an existing file fails when FILE_EXISTS_ERROR is specified.
FileCopyTest::testExistingRename in drupal/modules/simpletest/tests/file.test
Test renaming when copying over a file that already exists.
FileCopyTest::testExistingReplace in drupal/modules/simpletest/tests/file.test
Test replacement when copying over a file that already exists.
FileCopyTest::testNormal in drupal/modules/simpletest/tests/file.test
Test file copying in the normal, base case.
FileTokenReplaceTestCase::testFileTokenReplacement in drupal/modules/file/tests/file.test
Creates a file, then tests the tokens generated from it.

... See full list

File

drupal/includes/file.inc, line 803
API for handling file uploads and server file management.

Code

function file_copy(stdClass $source, $destination = NULL, $replace = FILE_EXISTS_RENAME) {
  if (!file_valid_uri($destination)) {
    if (($realpath = drupal_realpath($source->uri)) !== FALSE) {
      watchdog('file', 'File %file (%realpath) could not be copied, because the destination %destination is invalid. This is often caused by improper use of file_copy() or a missing stream wrapper.', array(
        '%file' => $source->uri,
        '%realpath' => $realpath,
        '%destination' => $destination,
      ));
    }
    else {
      watchdog('file', 'File %file could not be copied, because the destination %destination is invalid. This is often caused by improper use of file_copy() or a missing stream wrapper.', array(
        '%file' => $source->uri,
        '%destination' => $destination,
      ));
    }
    drupal_set_message(t('The specified file %file could not be copied, because the destination is invalid. More information is available in the system log.', array(
      '%file' => $source->uri,
    )), 'error');
    return FALSE;
  }
  if ($uri = file_unmanaged_copy($source->uri, $destination, $replace)) {
    $file = clone $source;
    $file->fid = NULL;
    $file->uri = $uri;
    $file->filename = drupal_basename($uri);

    // If we are replacing an existing file re-use its database record.
    if ($replace == FILE_EXISTS_REPLACE) {
      $existing_files = file_load_multiple(array(), array(
        'uri' => $uri,
      ));
      if (count($existing_files)) {
        $existing = reset($existing_files);
        $file->fid = $existing->fid;
        $file->filename = $existing->filename;
      }
    }
    elseif ($replace == FILE_EXISTS_RENAME && is_file($destination)) {
      $file->filename = drupal_basename($destination);
    }
    $file = file_save($file);

    // Inform modules that the file has been copied.
    module_invoke_all('file_copy', $file, $source);
    return $file;
  }
  return FALSE;
}