Inconsistent-destination

Copy-Item inconsistent destination directory

If a directory 1 is copied by Copy-Item then the result depends on existence of the destination directory 2.

• If 2 does not exist then Copy-Item works as expected, the destination 2 is created and files from 1 are copied to 2.
• If 2 exists, for example the same command is called again, then Copy-Item works as if the destination is 2/n1 where n1 is the name of directory 1.

Workaround

The following workaround is suggested at Connect:

    mkdir $destination -Force
    Copy-Item $source\* $destination -Recurse -Force

Scripts

• Test-1-inconsistent-destination.ps1 shows different destinations on the first and second copies.
• Test-2-workaround.ps1 shows the workaround with consistent destination.

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• Microsoft Connect 809855