XCOPY /Exclude Directory Syntax

command lineexcludexcopy

I'm trying to use XCOPY to copy a directory that looks like this:

-MainFolder
 -ManyFoldersIWantToCopy
 -ManyFoldersIWantToCopy
 -...
 -Source Code

I want to use the /EXCLUDE option to copy every folder except Source Code.

I tried using the following, but I did not have any luck:

xcopy "Source" "Destination" /EXCLUDE:"\Source Code\" /E /C /R /I /K /Y

The error message I receive says: Can't read file: "\Source Code\".

I've tried removing the double-quotes all together, using single-quotes instead, with/without the \'s, but I get the same error message.

Any ideas?

Best Answer

C:\>xcopy /?
...
  /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
           Specifies a list of files containing strings.  Each string
           should be in a separate line in the files.  When any of the
           strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
           copied, that file will be excluded from being copied.  For
           example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
           all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
           .obj extension respectively.

You need to put "Source Code" in a file and specify that file on the command line.

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