Help with a DOS command that isn't working for me

[TomSalvato]

Hello experts - I'm hoping this is a simple request, I haven't had to use too much DOS in recent years so I'm probably forgetting something common.

I need to do a basic file copy from one location to another, but I need to target file to get a date extension so that it doesn't overwrite files in the target folder.

copy CurrentPath\test.txt NewPath\test.txt

I need the file to be test_01302022.txt (though the format of the date isn't that important).

I know there's a data function, but I can't seem to get the system to accept the syntax.

This is what I was told to try ...

copy CurrentPath\test.txt NewPath\test-%DATE%.txt
This just gives me a syntax error.

Can anyone help me out with what I'm doing wrong?

Thanx as always,
-TS

 

[pmonett]

This

https://stackoverflow.com/questions...the-windows-command-line-in-a-suitable-format

might help.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[pjw001]

Here is some code from the start of a batch file that I use.

for /f "tokens=2 delims==" %%a in ('wmic OS Get localdatetime /value') do set "dt=%%a"
set "YY=%dt:~2,2%" & set "YYYY=%dt:~0,4%" & set "MM=%dt:~4,2%" & set "DD=%dt:~6,2%"
set "HH=%dt:~8,2%" & set "Min=%dt:~10,2%" & set "Sec=%dt:~12,2%"

set "fullstamp=%YYYY%-%MM%-%DD%-%HH%-%Min%-%Sec%"

set "backuplogname=backup-%YYYY%-%MM%-%DD%-%HH%-%Min%-%Sec%.txt"

Hope it helps.

 

[Andrzejek]

Or, instead of DOS, you can use simple FileCopy in VBA (let's say, Excel)

---- Andy

"Hmm...they have the internet on computers now"--Homer Simpson

 

[TomSalvato]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Forgive me, but I really am a novice with DOS commands at this point.

So the line I got from another site ...

copy TEST.txt TEST-%DATE%.txt is not even close? Keeping in mind, i just need a datestamp on the target file name, the format doesn't really matter.

-TS

 

[pjw001]

I think the problem you have is that the date is in the format "31/01/2022" and dos does not like the "/" characters in the filename.

You will need to do something based on my earlier answer.

 

[TomSalvato]

You're right, that is precisely how the 'date' function returns the date. I'll need to replace the \ with - symbols. I will fool around a bit using your previous posts. Thanks again. -TS

 

[Professor Shadow]

8.3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.3_filename

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