I am trying to write simple batch file that will perform a "string" search in C:\textfile.txt then COPY some file to some folder. Should I not use FOR /F ? The below command works but always performs the DO command regardless if the string is found or not. FOR /F "usebackq delims==" %i IN (`FIND /I "error" C:\logfile.log`) DO echo Error Found > D:\report.txt -Thanks

You dont have to use a FOR loop. Try: type "c:\logfile.log" |find "error" if not errorlevel 1 echo "Error found" >"d:\report.txt"

Hi Shroom, I agree; no need for FOR. I'd prefer this as a first line: find "error" < logfile.log > nul ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Thanks Shr00m I'm almost there but can I use a command rather than a > D\output.txt ? I need to copy a file rather than produce output. I was using > D\output.txt just to see if I could get the .bat to work hoping it would be simple to change. I tried XCOPY and COPY but that produced nothing useful.

I assume you want to copy a file based on the result of the string search. If so, you need to know that FIND sets an errorlevel which you can use for decision making. If you want to do a copy if the string is found: ::== my.bat find "error" < logfile.log > nul if errorlevel 1 goto :eof copy c:\somefile d:\ :: DONE ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2