Directory List

You only need quote-marks around the filename(s) (including the path(s)) if either or both contain spaces. It makes no difference whether you include them or not, but you MUST include them if there is a space anywhere in the relevant filename or path.

Examples (note that Src is the source drive and Dst is the destination drive).

Code:

DIR "Src:\data" /s > "Dst:\List.txt"

This format will ALWAYS work.

Code:

"Src:\data" /s > "Dst:\List.txt

This will NOT work (missing " - these need to be in pairs).

Code:

"Src:\data /s > Dst:\List.txt"

This will NOT work (" to be placed around filename(s) (including the path(s)) only).

Code:

"Src:\data" /s > Dst:\Data List.txt

This will NOT work (destination filename contains a space).

Code:

"Src:\data" /s > Dst:\Data List\List.txt

This will NOT work (destination path contains a space).

Dwarf said:

You only need quote-marks around the filename(s) (including the path(s)) if either or both contain spaces. It makes no difference whether you include them or not, but you MUST include them if there is a space anywhere in the relevant filename or path.

Thank you for the definitive examples.
Member 'huffman' should be well versed on this now...

As a side note:
I believe the "pipe" symbol is |
i.e. type list.txt | more
(in olden days)

whereas the > symbol indicates 'redirection'
i.e. not to console, but to a file.
(in olden days)

But, they may have changed the terminology for Vista/w7...

ChuckR said:

As a side note:
I believe the "pipe" symbol is |
i.e. type list.txt | more
(in olden days)

whereas the > symbol indicates 'redirection'
i.e. not to console, but to a file.
(in olden days)

But, they may have changed the terminology for Vista/w7...

Me too, I was using the wrong term. Sorry. In my earlier post I ment redirection when talking about pipe.

I stand corrected.

Kari

As another side note,

I prefer the list to show 'folders' first, then the 'filenames'.

Both sorted alphabetically, therefore I use options

/O:GN

To save typing it all the time, I use the "Set Environment Variable" command:

set dircmd=DIR /O:GN /P (where the /P option is 'page at a time', onscreen)

Then, when I type 'dir',
the output to the crt is folders first, followed by filenames, both sorted alpha, and a screenful at a time...
Looking like this:

(I don't really use the /system or /hidden options, since I always enable the
"Don't Hide nuthin", "Show System-files", "Show FileExtensions", etc. via Windows, so I can always see what's really there.)

Hope this helps...

I'm pleased that you have solved your problem.

As for the prompts, I recommend the former one, with the quotes ("), as you can't go wrong with that.