Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft DOS => Topic started by: ALAN_BR on June 13, 2009, 04:26:11 AM

Title: How can FOR see Hidden files :- FOR %%A IN (*.XYZ) DO my_test %%A
Post by: ALAN_BR on June 13, 2009, 04:26:11 AM

I require "my_test" to process EVERY file with the extension XYZ.
Unfortunately some of them have the HIDE attribute set, and are not seen by FOR.

I can firstly do "ATTRIB -H" so that everything is visible,
but afterwards I would like all attributes to be restored as they were,
i.e. only hiding the files which were previously hidden.

Several times I have driven myself to brain-fade by reading the extensive documentation upon FOR.
Every time a understand a little more, and then decide the reminder is tomorrow's migraine ! !

I would appreciate advice upon any of the special features and option switches that would help me,
or a "SUPER_FOR" command,
or perhaps a short and simple vb-script I could use that would find all files and invoke my_test.cmd upon each.

Regards
Alan

Title: Re: How can FOR see Hidden files :- FOR %%A IN (*.XYZ) DO my_test %%A
Post by: gh0std0g74 on June 13, 2009, 05:19:23 AM

use attrib -h and get those hidden files to a new file...
after processing, read that new file line by line and attrib+h back

Title: Re: How can FOR see Hidden files :- FOR %%A IN (*.XYZ) DO my_test %%A
Post by: ALAN_BR on June 13, 2009, 08:16:23 AM

Thanks, but I already stated I could use attrib -h.
I really need to use a suitable FOR option switch, or a vb-script.

I am exploring the habitat of system files;
the Windows version of the ancient mariners maps "where dragons be". ! !

File "permissions" can impose various restrictions,
and I suspect that I may be able to see the existence of some files,
but NOT make a copy (e.g. files like pagefile.sys)

Any change to any file may result in System Restore intercepting and putting a copy in Restore.
When I ALLOWED Disc Cleanup to perform its default "compress old files",
Windows File Protection demanded my Windows Installation C.D. and would accept no excuses.
I really do not want to make Windows angry with me ! !

Regards
Alan

Title: Re: How can FOR see Hidden files :- FOR %%A IN (*.XYZ) DO my_test %%A
Post by: BC_Programmer on June 13, 2009, 10:20:59 AM

what about:

Code: [Select]

for /f "tokens=*" %%A in ('dir *.XYZ /b /a') do my_test %%A


Title: Re: How can FOR see Hidden files :- FOR %%A IN (*.XYZ) DO my_test %%A
Post by: ALAN_BR on June 13, 2009, 12:12:05 PM

BC_Programmer

Thank you very much -  Perfect Solution.

N.B.  I have used DOS V3.32 onwards.
I have always used DIR * /A:-D to see all files regardless of attributes.
I was surprised by your use of /A.

I have now inspected DIR /? and can see that [:] is optional,
so /A:-D is the same as /AD
I can also see that no specific attribute needs to be included.
I was not aware this was optional.
I am surprised to observe that I can see all directories and files regardless of attributes with /A
Back to school for me ! !

FOR /F %%A IN ('COMMAND') is something I had problems with some months ago.
I was never sure whether I should be using forward quotes or back quotes,
i.e. keyboard top left or just left of #

When I viewed FOR /? I saw

Quote

FOR /F ["options"] %variable IN ('command') DO command [command-parameters]
    or, if usebackq option present:
FOR /F ["options"] %variable IN (`command`) DO command [command-parameters]

and I assumed the "usebackq option present" was something pre-existing, either by an option switch when launching CMD.EXE or by a registry hack.

I now realise, after scrolling down a page, it is not a pre-existing thing, but a special modifier within the optional options.

Time for my aspirins ! !

Thank you for your solution, which has led me into a less incomplete understanding of DIR and FOR.

Regards
Alan