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I would like to copy files from one drive to another, but I only want to copy source files that are newer than the destination file. BUT, I also want to only copy source files that have been changed after a certain date.

I know I can use xcopy to do either one of these things, but I would like to do both at the same time.

So for example, I want to copy all source files dated on or after 3/1/2013, but in addition I only want the file copied if the source file is newer than the destination. So ideally I would like to do something like this: 

xcopy c:\*.* e:\*.* /D:03-01-2013

combined with something like this:

xcopy c:\*.* e:\*.* /D

Can this be done with xcopy or Robocopy?

Oliver Salzburg
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PaulStock
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3 Answers3

24

This will probably get you what you want:

Robocopy c:\ e:\ *.* /MAXAGE:20130301 /XO /E

Add the /L command to this to see what it will do without it actually doing it first just to make sure.

Check here for more information on Robocopy's options.

Rabbid10
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2

Just use both options in the same command:

xcopy c:\*.* e:\*.* /D /D:03-01-2013

gets you what you want.

Malcolm
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  • How would you do it if you wanted the file to be at least 1 hour old? In other words, a relative age from now, not an absolute age? – toddmo Jul 02 '14 at 19:30
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    @toddmo It looks like both xcopy and Robocopy can only filter by date, not time. You would have to use some other utility, or something like a FOR loop with the DIR /O:D command. – Malcolm Jul 03 '14 at 21:35
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    [RoboCopy can use minage and maxage](http://ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html), but it is only on the day level, not hour. You can also read here for some other tools and batch scripts that will [copy files 1 hour old](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17047965/how-can-i-copy-only-files-and-folder-created-in-the-past-hour-in-one-directory-t). – Sun Nov 05 '14 at 19:58
1

In case someone wants to do the same without command line, the SyncToy tool does the job pretty well.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=15155

velval
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