Last time I used batch files, I learned with examples from an MSDOS 5.0 book. Now, while trying to apply a command on all files in a directory, I stumbled upon
for %%J in (*.exe *.dll) do @echo %%J I thought "this can't be a batch file", but yet it works.
Q1: How is this new format called and/or where do I find a list of things I can do with this new format?
Q2: (*.exe *.dll) is not a DOS-style command; so what is it?
Q3: How do I modify this "command" to include files in all subdirectories?
Informally, NT batch. Oficially, who cares?
Certainly is dos-style. * has always meant matches anything Perhaps not in a FOR command, but that's NT batch for you. Enhancements, see?
Look at
FOR /?
from the prompt.
Or generally
commandname /?
Or go to Help & Support and look for command line
It is a DOS style command. The format of for-loop in DOS:
FOR %variable IN (set) DO command [command-parameters]
(*.exe *.dll) is the set in the for command, it means all files with exe and dll extensions.
* is the wildcard character.
So this command will echo the names of all exe and dll files in the current directory.
You can use following for-loop to include files in all subdirectories:
@echo off for /F "delims==" %%d in ('dir /s /b /o:gn *.exe *.dll') DO ( ECHO %%d ) 
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion command and there is not a single variable enclosed in exclamation marks here! Please, don't confuse the beginner even more...