I want to add a couple of lines to my batch files that move files from one directory to another. I want to use FIND or FINDSTR to search the file it is moving for the character "*" (Asterisk). If the test is true, I want to set a variable to "1" else "0" Then I want to use IF to test the variable and branch off to do something different (Rename file) if the variable is equal to "1" One thing I can't figure out is how to create the variable in the first place. Can you help? The problem is, I can't find the state of the find or findstr to pass to SET... look at this... @ECHO OFF REM BMA810.bat REM This prepares the BMA 810 export files for processing REM and safeguards them from conflicting with user input ----------------- Rem This checks for asterisks ----------------- FINDSTR /LMC:"*" V:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\ABM81091.rfm (Get the state and set variable) SET FF=1 .... blah blah IF FF=1 GOTO FOUND ----------------- REM This moves file ----------------- Move V:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\*.* U:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\ u: CD U:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\ --------- REM This renames the file --------- @ECHO ON Rename ABM81091.rfm BM81091.rfm @ECHO OFF --------- REM This writes export file to mail_out.rfm --------- @ECHO ON TYPE BM81091.rfm >> mail_out.rfm @ECHO OFF GOTO END :FOUND --------- REM THIS MOVES THE FILE CONTAINING ASTERISKS Move V:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\ABM81091.rfm V:\EData\OrdX25-A\BMA\Ansi\810\4010\CORRUPT\ :END

Hi. I don't know how to work with FINDSTR (I'm on Win98, you're on NT, right?). But I think we can do this using FIND: FIND "*" file.dat > nul if errorlevel=1 goto notfound if not errorlevel=1 goto found Understood? FINDSTR will likely also emit an errorlevel 1 if it doesn't find the string, so you may use it as above. BTW, to set a variable: SET VARIABLE=VALUE To use a variable: %VARIABLE% To check a variable (compare with something): if "%var%"=="abc" goto begin In the above case, if the variable %var% is equal to abc it will 'goto begin'. The quotes aren't necessary, but there must be something on both sides: if "%var%=="abc ... if (%var%)==(abc) ... if %var%!==abc! ... NEVER use: if %var%==abc ... That's because the %var% value may be empty, so the statement will return an error message, since there's nothing on the left side of the "==" -- Secret_Doom - Leonardo Pignataro -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br