Vista - Copy-Item : Container cannot be copied onto existing leaf item.

I have a file rrr.config that contains the [line Backup,"c:\clean",
"C:\backup"]

I run the script :
$args = get-content -path c:\rrr.config
#Make backups
If ((select-string -path c:\rrr.config -pattern "Backup") -ne "")
{
$back = select-string -path c:\rrr.config -pattern "Backup"
foreach ($match in $back)
{
$frname = $match.ToString().Split("""")[1] + "\*"
$toname = $match.ToString().Split("""")[3]
copy-item $frname -destination $toname -Verbose -recurse -force
}
}

The folder clean contains several files and sub folders.

If the backup folder does not exisit then I get the message : "Copy-Item :
Container cannot be copied onto existing leaf item." and only the files in
the folder clean are copied not the subfolders and their content.

If the folder backup exists all the files and subfolders in clean are copied
over to the backup folder.

This happens with version 1 and 2.0 CPT 3 of powershell.

Verbose listing of output:

VERBOSE: Performing operation "Copy Directory" on Target "Item:
C:\clean\absdde Destination: C:\backup".
VERBOSE: Performing operation "Create Directory" on Target "Destination:
C:\backup".
VERBOSE: Performing operation "Copy File" on Target "Item:
C:\clean\absdde\oadist.exe Destination: C:\backup\oadist.exe".
VERBOSE: Performing operation "Copy File" on Target "Item:
C:\clean\absdde\ReadMe.txt Destination: C:\backup\ReadMe.txt".
VERBOSE: Performing operation "Copy File" on Target "Item:
C:\clean\absdde\RegClean.exe Destination: C:\backup\RegClean.exe".
Copy-Item : Container cannot be copied onto existing leaf item.
At line:14 char:17
+ copy-item <<<< $frname -destination $toname -Verbose -recurse
-force
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument:
(C:\clean\CallRecording:String) [Copy-Item], PSArgumentException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId :
CopyContainerItemToLeafError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.CopyItemCommand

Copy-Item : Container cannot be copied onto existing leaf item.
At line:14 char:17
+ copy-item <<<< $frname -destination $toname -Verbose -recurse
-force
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (C:\clean\sec:String)
[Copy-Item], PSArgumentException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId :
CopyContainerItemToLeafError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.CopyItemCommand

Any ideas what is going on.

If you qualify the path with an asterisk, Copy-Item will copy the complete dir structure with their items only if the destination already exists.
Check out this thread's first reply:
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9b8b4424c2af22

To ensure the script executes successfully, check for the existence of the destination directory, and only append the asterisk to the source directory name if the destination directory exists.

...
foreach ($match in $back) {
$frname = $match.ToString().Split("""")[1] + '\'
$toname = $match.ToString().Split("""")[3]
if (Test-Path $frname -PathType Container) {$frname += '*'}
copy-item $frname -destination $toname -Verbose -recurse -force
}

@PSTeam,
This quirk needs to be documented, or at least explained in future Copy-Item help docs.

--
Kiron

# mistake, change this:
if (Test-Path $frname -PathType Container) {$frname += '*'}

# to:
if (Test-Path $toname -PathType Container) {$frname += '*'}

--
Kiron

Thanks for your help!

"Kiron" wrote: