use cmake configure_file to copy recursive files

Question

I wanna using configure_file(<input> <output> COPYONLY) to copy a specific directory files recursive , I used this command:

configure_file(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/res/* ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/res COPYONLY)

but I got some errors , How I should use this command for this porpuse? (I looked at this question too), the Errors:

CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:86 (configure_file): configure_file Problem configuring file

I know that I can use it with file(...) too , but I wanna use configure_file(...):

file(COPY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/res/ DESTINATION ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/res)

From the cmake documentation of configure_file (emphasis mine): "Copies an <input> file to an <output> file .." — fabian
– fabian, Commented Apr 9, 2022 at 11:39
"I wanna use configure_file(...)" - Then you need to use it for every separate file. You could obtain list of files using file(GLOB) and iterate over this list with foreach. — Tsyvarev
– Tsyvarev, Commented Apr 9, 2022 at 11:39
There's execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/res" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/res") which does seem to achieve what you seem to attempt here btw... — fabian
– fabian, Commented Apr 9, 2022 at 11:41

Joe_Bao · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-09 11:45:02Z

2

I don't think it is possible to use configure_file to copy a folder directly. The command is about

copy a file to another location and modify its contents.

answered Apr 9, 2022 at 11:45

Joe_Bao

1146 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Answer 1