DOCUMENT:Q251339 11-JAN-2001 [vbwin] TITLE :PRB: CopyFolder Syntax Differs for UNC Paths and Mapped Drives PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows PROD/VER:WINDOWS:6.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbVBp kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 6.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When attempting to use the CopyFolder method of the FileSytemObject, you get the following error message: Error 5: Invalid Call or Procedure CAUSE ===== You specified a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path for the source but did not include the wildcard (*) character. MORE INFORMATION ================ When the CopyFolder method of the FileSystemObject is used with a UNC path, it requires the use of a wildcard character in the source specification. However, when the CopyFolder method is used with a wildcard, it only copies the subfolders of the last named folder in the path and does not copy any files from that folder. Therefore, if you want to copy the entire contents, you must use the CopyFile method in addition to the CopyFolder method when using a UNC path and the wildcard specification for the source. The mapped path usage of CopyFolder can be specified with or without wildcard characters in the source path. If it is used without the wildcard for mapped drive paths, it copies the entire contents of the folder, including the files and subfolders. Steps to Reproduce Behavior --------------------------- 1. Start Windows Explorer and create two folders, "C:\MyFolder" (without the quotation marks) and "C:\MyNewFolder" (without the quotation marks). Add some files and subfolders to C:\MyFolder. 2. Start a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default. 3. On the Project menu, click References to display the References dialog box. Select Microsoft Scripting Runtime and then click OK. 4. Add two CommandButton controls to Form1. 5. Add the following code to the General Declarations section of Form1, replacing the references to "MyMachine" with the name of your computer: Option Explicit Dim fs As FileSystemObject Private Sub Command1_Click() ' Without Wildcard ' The following statement creates C:\NewFolder and copies the contents ' (files and subfolders) of c:\MyFolder into it. fs.CopyFolder "C:\myFolder", "C:\NewFolder" End Sub Private Sub Command2_Click() ' Wildcard ' Comment the following line to avoid Error 5: Invalid Call or Procedure fs.CopyFolder "\\myMachine\myFolder", "C:\myNewFolder" ' The following line copies the subfolders of myFolder into myNewFolder fs.CopyFolder "\\myMachine\myFolder\*", "C:\myNewFolder" ' The following line copies the files from myFolder into myNewFolder fs.CopyFile "\\myMachine\myFolder\*", "C:\myNewFolder" End Sub Private Sub Form_Load() Set fs = New FileSystemObject Command1.Caption = "Without Wildcard" Command2.Caption = "Wildcard" End Sub 6. Run the program. Click the Wildcard button to reproduce the error. 7. Edit Command2_Click, commenting out the line indicated in the code. Repeat the previous step and the directories and files are copied properly. NOTE: If you step through the code, you can see that CopyFolder only copies the folders and that CopyFile is necessary to copy the files. 8. If you reset the test by deleting the contents of C:\NewFolder, you can repeat the test, only clicking on the Without Wildcard button to see that this syntax also copies the files and subfolders. REFERENCES ========== MSDN Help Index : CopyFolder method Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbVBp kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB600Search kbVBA600 kbVB600 Version : WINDOWS:6.0 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.