title: PowerShell use xcopy, robocopy or copy-item
body: <p>The reason for switching from batch files to powershell scripts is to improve error checking of the process.  Does the cmdlet for copying have advantages in this regard?</p>
  
  <p>If a batch file already exists that uses xcopy to copy files by filename individually is there any advantage to converting the syntax to copy-item? </p>
  
  <p>What are the advantages of using robocopy, xcopy and copy-item (compared to each other)?  For example does robocopy have an advantage when working with a large number of small files over a reliable network.  If this script is to be run simultaneously on hundreds of computers to copy hundreds of files to each of them will that affect the decision?  Should the decision be focused mainly on the permissions of the files?</p>