I have tried using echo. (echo followed by period) to create a blank line. I get the error: 'echo.' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Any ideas/suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance. Here is the bat file: @echo off REM HNACP00012012 if "%1"=="" goto usage if "%2"=="" goto usage if "%3"=="" goto usage for /f "skip=1 delims=" %%a in ('DIR "%~1\%~2*.%3" /A-D /O-D /B /TW') do ECHO %1\%%a for /f "skip=1 delims=" %%a in ('DIR "%~1\%~2*.%3" /A-D /O-D /B /TW') do del "%1\%%a" goto xit :usage echo Usage: %0 directory fileprefix fileextension echo. echo This will change to the specified directory. echo It will delete all files named fileprefix*.fileextension except the one last written to. echo. echo Example: %0 c:\INFOSTAT\temp HISRpt txt echo. echo This will delete all files named HISRpt*.txt in the c:\INFOSTAT\temp directory echo except the one with the latest write date. :xit Here is what I get when I issue the command: CleanAllButLast Usage: CleanAllButLast.bat directory fileprefix fileextension 'echo.' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. This will change to the specified directory. It will delete all files named fileprefix*.fileextension except the one last wri tten to. 'echo.' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Example: CleanAllButLast.bat c:\INFOSTAT\temp HISRpt txt 'echo.' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. This will delete all files named HISRpt*.txt in the c:\INFOSTAT\temp directory except the one with the latest write date.

Do you ger the error message under Windows NT, XP or both systems? You posted NT and XP as your running environments and sometime NT is rich of astounding behaviors.

Anyway the following acts exactly as Echo. does Ver | Find /V "er" and may be used to work around the trouble.

Thanks for the replies. I actually tested the file on XP. I had also posted my issue to the alt.msdos.batch group (should have been to alt.msdos.batch.nt group). In the alt.msdos.batch.nt group I found that the problem was I had a file named "echo" (don't know why) in the same directory as my bat file. Removing that file caused the echo. (echo followed by period) to work correctly. Additionally, I found if I used echo, (echo followed by comma) that I got a blank line even if I had the "echo" file present in the same directory.

Try 'echo:' or 'echo|' I can't remember which one it is...

i dont know c++ but cant you just use \n on the end of the previous line? example: echo Usage: %0 directory fileprefix fileextension\n instead of echo Usage: %0 directory fileprefix fileextension echo. sorry if it doesnt help you but it just seems familiar. FBI Agent AIM: EliteAssassin187