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### 2712. `copy_file(from, to, ...)` has a number of unspecified error conditions

Section: 29.12.13.5 [fs.op.copy.file] Status: C++17 Submitter: Eric Fiselier Opened: 2016-05-10 Last modified: 2021-06-06

Priority: 2

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Discussion:

There are a number of error cases that `copy_file(from, to, ...)` does not take into account. Specifically the cases where:

1. `from` does not exist
2. `from` is not a regular file
3. `to` exists and is not a regular file

These error cases should be specified as such.

[2016-05 Issues Telecon]

Eric to provide wording.

[2016-05-28, Eric Fiselier provides wording]

[2016-08 Chicago]

Wed AM: Move to Tentatively Ready

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N4582.

1. Modify [fs.op.copy_file] as indicated:

   >     bool copy_file(const path& from, const path& to, copy_options options);
   >     bool copy_file(const path& from, const path& to, copy_options options,
   >                    error_code& ec) noexcept;

   > > -3- Requires: At most one constant from each `copy_options` option group (27.10.10.2) is present in `options`.

   > > -4- Effects: Report a file already exists error as specified in Error reporting (27.5.6.5) if:
   > > - `!is_regular_file(from)`, or
   > > - `exists(to)` and `!is_regular_file(to)`, or
   > > - `exists(to)` and `equivalent(from, to)`, or
   > > - `exists(to)` and `(options & (copy_options::skip_existing | copy_options::overwrite_existing | copy_options::update_existing)) == copy_options::none`.