hi all, following batch file creates the list of directory stucture on dirlist.txt. I just want to add some text. Kindly help! desired output file ------------------- <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="multiple_input3.xsl"?> <someURIs> <file>C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise\file.xml</file> <file>C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise\AFC\file.xml</file> <file>C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise\AHAW\file.xml</file> </someURIs> dirlist.txt ----------- C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise\AFC C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise\AHAW batch file: ----------- @echo off set topdir=C:\kix\Enterprise031114\Enterprise set tempdir=C:\temp set file2copy=C:\tree.xsl set look4file=xmlinterlinks.xml echo %topdir%> "%tempdir%\dirlist.txt" dir "%topdir%" /s /b /ad >> "%tempdir%\dirlist.xml" for /F "delims=*" %%p IN (%tempdir%\dirlist.txt) do if exist "%%p\%look4file%" copy "%file2copy%" "%%p"

Below you find the script that converts your text list into a html one; use iit in your batch by calling Call Lst2Xml DirList.txt DirList.htm or embed directly in your script. The trick is straightforward: prefix the forbidden character with a ^ (caret) to strip away its special meaning and use it then as an usual alphameric one. --- Lst2Xml.bat ----- @Echo Off :: LST2XML.BAT Syntax: Lst2Xml File_In File_Out Echo ^<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?^>> %~f2 Echo ^<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="multiple_input3.xsl"?^>>> %~f2 Echo ^<someURIs^>>> %~f2 For /F "tokens=*" %%A in (%~f1) Do Echo ^<file^>%%A\file.xml^</file^>>> %~f2 Echo ^</someURIs^>>> %~f2

Thanks IVO for the response. I added it in my batch file but i get the error message Error ----- The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect Please look at the complete file which is as following @echo off set topdir=C:\kix\Enterprise0311141\Enterprise set tempdir=C:\temp set file2copy=C:\tree.xsl set look4file=xmlinterlinks.xml echo %topdir%> "%tempdir%\dirlist.txt" dir "%topdir%" /s /b /ad >> "%tempdir%\dirlist.txt" for /F "delims=*" %%p IN (%tempdir%\dirlist.txt) do if exist "%%p\%look4file%" "<file>%%p</file>" > "%tempdir%\dirlist1.txt" call read_text c:\temp\dirlist.txt dirlist.htm rem read_text is the bat file IVO wrote

Your flaw is "<file>%%p</file>" "^<file^>%%p^</file^>" remember: prefix with ^ (caret) to have the character interpreted as its own and NOT as a special meaning symbol (redirector in that case)

I am looking again at your script more accurately and I confirm the integrity of my batch (I tested it again and it performed fine); the string in your For statement I brought to your attention in my previous post is still marked as bad, but more *the whole statement following the If clause* is questionable (either coded fine) as it seems meaningless: have you forgotten an Echo command?

yes, you are right ... i was making a mistake in writing the path. thanks! is it possible that it replaces & with & if it finds in path name?

Please, post your question in other words, explain it, as I do not understand... > is it possible that it replaces & with & if it finds in path name? What do you mean?