I'm running WinME (No comments, please!) I run a batch file at start up to delete known files I don't want. But I do not know how to delete types of files across multiple (sub)directories. EXAMPLE: If I key in DIR *.TMP/S, I'll get a listing of ALL .TMP files in all directories and sub-directories. DELETE has no "/S" switch. Can I include one or more lines in a batch file to delete all files with given extensions (like *.TMP and *.GID) in ALL directories and sub-directories? If so, how?

I think you might find that Deltree will do what you want, if it still comes with Win-ME. Deltree will delete directories and contents.

yeah, right: deltree delets files in subdirectories... but it delets ALL of them, just in case you don't remember ;D No kiddin now, I think R.MAN wants to del only the .tmp files, not all the files That can be done by batch. Just give me some time It should be ready by tomorrow -- Secret_Doom -- email: secret_doom@hotmail.com PS: Any donatives should be put directly into my account. :D

Let's say it didn't take that long... :D Here it goes!!!! It will delete all files within extensions GID and TMP at the C:\DATA directory and subdirectories. You'll need EDLIN.exe. You may download it at http://filebox.vt.edu/users/alrobin2/home/edlin/download.html (don't be scared with the page)(put it in a directory path, such as c:\windows) You'll also need a complementar file, also posted below. You should put it at root (c:\) contents of DELALL.BAT : @echo off dir/b/s c:\data\*.gid> out.bat dir/b/s c:\data\*.tmp>> out.bat edlin out.bat [lessthan] c:\delall.rep >nul call out.bat del out.bat del out.bak contents of DELALL.REP (has to be on c:\!): 1,#rC:\^ZDEL C:\ e NOTE1: ^Z means CTRL+Z character. Get it in dos edit by CTRL+P+Z NOTE2: [lessthan] mean lessthan character (the opposite of ">") this forum has problems in posting that character :P NOTE3: Be careful with that! Any batchs that involves del/ren/move commands are very dangerous. That's it. Any further questions, letme know -- Secret_Doom -- email: secret_doom@hotmail.com PS: Only make changes on that batch if you know what your doing. TIP: if ya want to edit it and are not sure of what you're doing, take out the three last lines from delall.bat. After running it, check out.bat. it should have a list of all files to be deleted (full path) with the command DEL on the begginnig of each line

Thanks, --Secret_Doom--. I think I understand most of it; could you explain what DELALL.REP does (it adds a delete command before each file listing, but I'm not sure how). Is it possible to do this without Edlin? It seems like such a throwback. I would have thought that wanting to delete files across (sub)directories would be something that many people would want to do, and that there would tons of already written batch files, but my two books on batch files (by Rubenking and Jamsa)don't even raise the question. All MS had to do was to add an /S switch like it has in the DIR command. Anyway, a very clever solution. I really do miss DOS!

Yeah, a /s switch at del would be great. EDLIN is a command line text editor. It edits files, but has a different interface from notepad or edit. It is like dos. You give the commands. So, we can create a script file (delall.rep) to "guide" edlin to edit the file. delall.rep says: 1,#rC:\^ZDEL C:\ "translation": Replace every occurance of "C:\" by "DEL C:\" 1,# means that it will search for "C:\" from line 1 to the last line (so it will search the hole document) That should be another ways, but that's the only one I know. And for that way, edlin IS necessary -- Secret_Doom -- PS: For more information about using edlin.exe, go on: http://www.wwwebspace.co.uk/~iskra/edlin/

Whoops! It doesn't work with long file names. One *.gid file was in C:\Program Files\Corel\[etc.] and got the error message "too many parameters - Files\Corel\Wordperfect." Apparently, as it comes across a space it thinks it's another parameter.