[bug #68243] copyfile does not create nested destination

Ray Zimmerman <[email protected]> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:28:15 -0400 (EDT)

Newsgroups	gmane.comp.gnu.octave.bugs
Message-ID	<[email protected]>

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URL:
  <https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?68243>

                 Summary: copyfile does not create nested destination
                   Group: GNU Octave
               Submitter: rdzman
               Submitted: Tue 14 Apr 2026 05:28:11 PM UTC
                Category: Octave Function
                Severity: 3 - Normal
                Priority: 5 - Normal
              Item Group: Matlab Compatibility
                  Status: None
             Assigned to: None
         Originator Name:
        Originator Email:
             Open/Closed: Open
         Discussion Lock: Unlocked
                 Release: 11.1.0
        Operating System: Microsoft Windows
           Fixed Release: None
         Planned Release: None


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Follow-up Comments:


-------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue 14 Apr 2026 05:28:11 PM UTC By: Ray Zimmerman <rdzman>
In MATLAB, when using copyfile() to copy a folder to a destination folder that
does not yet exist, the destination folder is created, including multiple
levels of folders needed to create the full destination path.

Octave, on the other hand, will only do it if it is a single folder creation
that is required.

E.g. Suppose your current working directory contains only folderA ...

In MATLAB ...

copyfile('folderA', 'folderB/folderC')

... will create both folderB and folderC, but in Octave it gives the error:

error: copyfile: operation failed: cp: cannot create directory
'folderB/folderC': No such file or directory


On the other hand, Octave creates folderC just fine if folderB already
exists.









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