Is there a way to move files with the SP Object model in MOSS whilst retaining meta data?

Question

Is there a way in SharePoint 2007 to move a file from one document library to another, in the same site collection programatically? I made this post about this on StackOverflow, with a bounty not too long ago but had no success. I was hoping this community might have some more insight.

Answer 1

Try this,

// Get your source and destination libraries
SPList source = web.GetList(web.ServerRelativeUrl + @"/SourceDocLib");
SPList destination = web.GetList(web.ServerRelativeUrl + @"/DestinationDocLib");

// Get the collection of items to move, use source.GetItems(SPQuery) if you want a subset
SPListItemCollection items = items = source.Items;

// Get the root folder of the destination we'll use this to add the files
SPFolder folder = web.GetFolder(destination.RootFolder.Url);

// Now to move the files and the metadata
foreach (SPListItem item in items)
{   
    //Get the file associated with the item     
    SPFile file = item.File;
    // Create a new file in the destination library with the same properties
    SPFile newFile = folder.Files.Add(folder.Url + "/" +file.Name, file.OpenBinary(),file.Properties,true);
    // Optionally copy across the created/modified metadata                        
    SPListItem newItem = newFile.Item;
    newItem["Editor"] = item["Editor"];
    newItem["Modified"] = item["Modified"];
    newItem["Author"] = item["Author"];
    newItem["Created"] = item["Created"];

    // UpdateOverwriteVersion() will preserve the metadata added above. 
    newItem.UpdateOverwriteVersion();                              
}

If you want to delete the originals as well use for (int i = items.Count -1; i > -1 ; i--) instead of the foreach to iterate backwards through the collection and items[i].Recycle(); or items[i].Delete(); to recycle or delete the original after you have moved it.

To move the items into subfolders replace the line SPFolder folder = web.GetFolder(destination.RootFolder.Url); with code similar to the following:

// Set the name of the new destination subfolder
string newFolderName = "Sub Folder 1";
// Try to get the new subfolder so we can test to see if it exists and if not create it
SPFolder folder = web.GetFolder(destination.RootFolder.Url + "/" + newFolderName);
if (!folder.Exists)
{
    // Add the new folder
    SPListItem folderItem = destination.Folders.Add("", SPFileSystemObjectType.Folder, newFolderName);
    folderItem.SystemUpdate();
    // Get the folder after creating it
    folder = web.GetFolder(destination.RootFolder.Url + "/" + newFolderName);
                            Console.WriteLine(@"Created folder ""{0}""", folder.Url);
}

I'll post this answer with your original post on StackOverflow as well in case people look there first.