OS-COPY statement

Executes an operating system file copy command from within ABL.

Syntax

OS-COPY
  { source-filename | VALUE ( expression ) }
  { target-filename | VALUE ( expression ) }

source-filename

The name of the original file. If you specify a directory, OS-COPY generates an error. The filename can contain Unicode characters. See OpenEdge Development: Internationalizing Applications for more information about Unicode.

VALUE ( expression )

An expression that returns the name of the original file. Expression can contain constants, field names, and variable names. The filename can contain Unicode characters.

target-filename

The name of the new file or directory. If you specify a directory, OS-COPY gives the target file the same name as the source file. The filename can contain Unicode characters.

VALUE ( expression )

An expression that returns the name of the new file or directory. expression can contain constants, field names, and variable names. The filename can contain Unicode characters.

Example

This procedure opens a dialog box that prompts the user to choose a file to copy. It then prompts for a name for the copy. Finally, the procedure uses the OS-COPY statement to copy the file.

r-os-cop.p

DEFINE VARIABLE sourcefilename AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO.
DEFINE VARIABLE copyfilename   AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO FORMAT "x(20)" 
  VIEW-AS FILL-IN.
DEFINE VARIABLE OKpressed      AS LOGICAL   NO-UNDO INITIAL TRUE.

Main:
REPEAT:
  SYSTEM-DIALOG GET-FILE sourcefilename
    TITLE  "Choose File to Copy"
    MUST-EXIST
    USE-FILENAME
    UPDATE OKpressed.

  IF OKpressed = FALSE THEN
    LEAVE Main.
  UPDATE copyfilename WITH FRAME copyframe.
  OS-COPY VALUE(sourcefilename) VALUE(copyfilename).
END.

Notes

• The filenames must conform to the naming conventions of the underlying operating system.
• If target-file specifies an existing file, OS-COPY overwrites the existing file.
• If target-file has the same name as source-file, the copy fails, but OS-ERROR is not set.
• If the copy terminates abnormally, the AVM deletes the partial target-file.
• Enclose filenames that refer to physical devices in double quotes (" ").
• Although an error can occur during execution of this statement, the statement does not generate an error message, raise an error condition, or affect the program's flow in any way. Check for an execution error by using the OS-ERROR function and evaluating the return.

See also

OS-ERROR function