Hi...I'm wondering if anyone knows how to search for specific filenames, then list all other files that don't match that format. the format is ??_??_??.* Any other file that doesn't match this should be listed, then printed. Thanks

To be clearer, the "Find" command is defined as follows: "The find command searches files for the string or text that you specify" I need to find everything else that the find command does NOT specify. Is there a way oh enlightened ones?

Not clear what you want to do. but FIND is for finding 'strings' in text files, NOT for finding files. You can: dir ??_??_??.* Try to restate what you want to do. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Also, it will depend on the version of DOS. The ability to do a dir/s was added in DOS 5.0 or 6.x, so if your DOS is earlier, you'll have different issues vis-a-vis finding files not in the current directory. In brief, to get two lists, one with the file names which contain a _ and another list of files which don't: dir |find "_" > with_.lst dir |find /v "_" > no_.lst Getting down to a list with the _ in particular positions will take much more doing. Let us know. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

If you can accept a two pass solution, first make a list of all file names, then delete those that match your search pattern. I believe a utility like grep will delete the unwanted names from the list.

wizard fred's solution is simpler and better. Check your site's google Page Rank here

Hi Michdosboy This help. ---------------------- @echo off attrib +h ??_??_??.* dir /b /a-d-h > prn attrib -h ??_??_??.*