File.Replace. A file needs to be replaced. With File.Replace, we replace the contents of one file with another. The original file is then deleted.
C# method notes. We could implement this logic with a series of file calls. But the File.Replace method is simpler. We can perform the task with a single call.
Example. This program uses the File.WriteAllText method to create 2 local text files. Because no absolute directory is specified, they are created in the directory local to the executable.
Next We invoke File.Replace. It accepts 3 arguments: the source file name, the destination file name, and the backup file name.
using System.IO;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
// Write to local file 1.
File.WriteAllText("test1.txt", "test1");
// Write to local file 2.
File.WriteAllText("test2.txt", "test2");
// Replace contents of file 1 with contents of file 2.// ... Also create file 3 as backup.
File.Replace("test2.txt", "test1.txt", "test3.txt");
}
}test1.txt: test2
test3.txt: test1
Output notes. The contents of test1.txt are now equal to the original contents of test2.txt. And test3.txt contains the contents of test1.txt.
Argument 1 The first argument to File.Replace is the file that will be deleted when the method completes.
Info The other two files passed as arguments to File.Replace are retained or created on the disk.
Summary. The File.Replace method provides a much-needed mechanism to automatically replace the contents of a file. Not only this, but it allows you to back up the original data.
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This page was last updated on Oct 24, 2021 (rewrite).