I'm trying to make a batch program which will copy (backup) only the current month's files. The files are stored by their dates, like this: May 03 file: C:\history\03\MAY\backmeup.dat Jan 02 file: C:\history\02\JAN\backmeup.dat So far I've had to prompt the user for the current date and time, but that is causing confusion. I also tried saving the date in a temp.bat but all I get is the long format and there isn't a "substring" type command (that I know of). Is there a way to get the current 2-digit year and the current 3-letter month (or even the 2 digit month which is easy to change) into variables?

Ah-Hah! I've found the solution at www.batch.hpg.ig.com.br If anyone is interested, here is the relevant part of the finished file: SET MON=FOO if "%1"=="GoTo" goto %2 echo e180 BF 07 01 B4 04 CD 1A E8 02 00 89 CA E8 00 00> %temp%.\t1.src echo e18F 86 D6 88 D0 D4 10 0D 30 30 86 C4 AB 47 C3>> %temp%.\t1.src for %%? in (rip 180 g w q) do echo %%?>> %temp%.\t1.src echo SET %%1=XX XX XX XX> %temp%.\t2.bat DEBUG %temp%.\t2.bat nul call %temp%.\t2.bat _ %0 GoTo parse %_% MM DD YC YY :parse set %7=%3 shift if not "%7"=="" goto parse for %%? in (t1.src t2.bat) do del %temp%.\%%? set _= IF "%MM%"=="01" SET MON=JAN IF "%MM%"=="02" SET MON=FEB IF "%MM%"=="03" SET MON=MAR IF "%MM%"=="04" SET MON=APR IF "%MM%"=="05" SET MON=MAY IF "%MM%"=="06" SET MON=JUN IF "%MM%"=="07" SET MON=JUL IF "%MM%"=="08" SET MON=AUG IF "%MM%"=="09" SET MON=SEP IF "%MM%"=="10" SET MON=OCT IF "%MM%"=="11" SET MON=NOV IF "%MM%"=="12" SET MON=DEC IF "%MON%"=="FOO" GOTO DATE_ERROR COPY C:\HISTORY\%YY%\%MON%\BACKMEUP.DAT D:\BACKUPS\HISTORY\%YY%\%MON%\

Ah-Hah! So it seems that my FAQ is actually contributing for the diminish of FAQ postings on the DOS/batch forums! =D Just a note, Shmanda - the following line: if "%1"=="GoTo" goto %2 Should appear before any code from the file, except for maybe a "@echo off" line and comment lines. The way you wrote it, the command "SET MON=FOO" will be executed everytime a subroutine is invoked. That means if you change the value of the variable MON before the :parse label, its value will be reset to FOO after it. -- Leonardo Pignataro - Secret_Doom -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br