# FileUtils cp\_r

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-cp-r/166440>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [April 25, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-cp-r/166440 "2009-04-25T08:12:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![newb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/2acd7d/32.png) [@newb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newb)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-cp-r/166440/1 "2009-04-25T08:12:20Z")

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Hi…

i want to copy a folder recursively

i did it using cp\_r(source,destination)

it works correctly.

but it sould not be overwritted…

how can i do it pls help me…

even i used remove\_destination =\> false…

but it gets overwritted…

any advices…

Thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/2acd7d/32.png) [@newb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newb)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-cp-r/166440/2 "2009-04-25T17:35:52Z")

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Maybe you can use

unless File.exists?(destination) or Dir.exists?(desitination)  
cp\_r(source,destination)  
end