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MFranklin1981 · May 26th, 2009, 12:55 PM

All the documentation I have found for moving multiple files in dos says to separate the file names by a comma. However I can't seem to get it to work. What is wrong with my syntax?

Edit: assumes files and folders are in current working directory

dos Syntax (Toggle Plain Text)

move 124*, 1779* Folder

Output

(Toggle Plain Text)

The syntax of the command is incorrect.

Adak · May 27th, 2009, 2:03 PM

The dos help shows using the comma separated file names for a multiple file move, but it doesn't work for me, either. Same error.

The only way I could get move to work with multiple files is by using wildcard char's:

C:\>move *.txt temp

would move all the .txt files from C:\ into the temp sub directory.

MFranklin1981 · May 27th, 2009, 4:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adak

The dos help shows using the comma separated file names for a multiple file move, but it doesn't work for me, either. Same error.

The only way I could get move to work with multiple files is by using wildcard char's:

C:\>move *.txt temp

would move all the .txt files from C:\ into the temp sub directory.

Yeah, but I need it a bit more intelligent than that. what a pain!

Arla · May 27th, 2009, 4:24 PM

You can always split your move commands into more than one? For example when you said

(Toggle Plain Text)

Move 124*,1779* folder

You can have

(Toggle Plain Text)

Move 124* folder
Move 1779* folder

It seems to be it doesn't like the folder after all the filenames (and if you omit the folder, it will move all the files into the last file... bleh!

Adak · May 28th, 2009, 7:32 PM

This move command format (move file1, file2, anotherDirectory), was new with DOS 6.0, and I'm starting to believe it was simply one of the DOS commands that was dropped to shrink DOS down to size for Windows.

Whether you use cmd.exe or command.com, if you enter "ver", it won't say "DOS 6.0" or something like that - it says "Windows ver. yada yada yada".

So it appears you can either use a for loop in a bat file, or you can use wildcards, but you can't move multiple explicit filenames in a single DOS command, with Windows XP. (I wasn't able to test this on any other version of Windows)

When is the Seattle R&R marathon?

MFranklin1981 · May 28th, 2009, 9:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adak

This move command format (move file1, file2, anotherDirectory), was new with DOS 6.0, and I'm starting to believe it was simply one of the DOS commands that was dropped to shrink DOS down to size for Windows.

Whether you use cmd.exe or command.com, if you enter "ver", it won't say "DOS 6.0" or something like that - it says "Windows ver. yada yada yada".

So it appears you can either use a for loop in a bat file, or you can use wildcards, but you can't move multiple explicit filenames in a single DOS command, with Windows XP. (I wasn't able to test this on any other version of Windows)

When is the Seattle R&R marathon?

Ahh. Yeah I'm on version 5.1.2600

Thankfully I was able to find a solution to my problem that didn't involve dos batch scripting. Not that I'm a hater or anything. I think it's great for certain things but it's just so limited.

I used AutoIT.
http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/in...1&#entry688151

The marathon is June 27th! It should be fun. There is going to be a band every mile!

May 26th, 2009, 12:55 PM	#1
MFranklin1981 C Student Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 69 Rep Power: 7	Moving multiple files with DOS command MOVE All the documentation I have found for moving multiple files in dos says to separate the file names by a comma. However I can't seem to get it to work. What is wrong with my syntax? Edit: assumes files and folders are in current working directory dos Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) move 124, 1779 Folder move 124, 1779 Folder Output (Toggle Plain Text) The syntax of the command is incorrect. The syntax of the command is incorrect. __________________ I'm running in the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Help me fight cancer by donating or forwarding this link on... http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/r...l09/mfrankltrt

May 27th, 2009, 2:03 PM	#2
Adak Hobby Coder Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,065 Rep Power: 9	Re: Moving multiple files with DOS command MOVE The dos help shows using the comma separated file names for a multiple file move, but it doesn't work for me, either. Same error. The only way I could get move to work with multiple files is by using wildcard char's: C:\>move *.txt temp would move all the .txt files from C:\ into the temp sub directory.

May 27th, 2009, 4:24 PM	#4
Arla Expert Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 777 Rep Power: 9	Re: Moving multiple files with DOS command MOVE You can always split your move commands into more than one? For example when you said (Toggle Plain Text) Move 124,1779 folder Move 124,1779 folder You can have (Toggle Plain Text) Move 124* folder Move 1779* folder Move 124* folder Move 1779* folder It seems to be it doesn't like the folder after all the filenames (and if you omit the folder, it will move all the files into the last file... bleh! __________________ I can remember, back in '22 They changed the law - came knocking on the door In that same moment, the broadband seemed to go.. Phones all dead. Gone dizzy in the head..

May 28th, 2009, 7:32 PM	#5
Adak Hobby Coder Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,065 Rep Power: 9	Re: Moving multiple files with DOS command MOVE This move command format (move file1, file2, anotherDirectory), was new with DOS 6.0, and I'm starting to believe it was simply one of the DOS commands that was dropped to shrink DOS down to size for Windows. Whether you use cmd.exe or command.com, if you enter "ver", it won't say "DOS 6.0" or something like that - it says "Windows ver. yada yada yada". So it appears you can either use a for loop in a bat file, or you can use wildcards, but you can't move multiple explicit filenames in a single DOS command, with Windows XP. (I wasn't able to test this on any other version of Windows) When is the Seattle R&R marathon?

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Bash / Shell Scripting

Moving multiple files with DOS command MOVE