asked on

attrib syntax...

Hi.
Not sure if this is the right place to ask a DOS question, but here goes...

I'm trying to recursively change the file properties in a directory (it came off a CD-ROM so all the files are 'read-only' in a directory tree). I'm trying this but it ain't working -

ATTRIB [-R] [[C:\][MYDOCU~1\DECCA\DOCROOT\]] [/S]

I'm getting the error

'Parameter value not allowed - [-R]

the directory is C:\MYDOCUMENTS\DECCA\DOCROOT\ and I want to change the properties of all files within that and nested directories...

The machine is running Win98 if that matters...

anyone any ideas?

Ian

jhance

Leave out the []. So the command is:

ATTRIB -R C:\MYDOCU~1\DOCROOT\ /s

jhance

By the way. A hint on syntax. When you see the documentation give parameters in [] like:

ATTRIB [-R]...

It means that the parameter is OPTIONAL. So you can leave it out if it's not necessary. The ATTRIB command for example says:

ATTRIB [+R | -R] ...

That means that you can have:

ATTRIB
ATTRIB +R
ATTRIB -R

and all are legal syntax. Note that this command does not require ANY parameters so you can issue:

ATTRIB

This will just display the settings for all the files in the current directory.

cath

ASKER

I'm getting 'path not found' when I do this:

ATTRIB -R C:\MYDOCU~1\DECCA\DOCROOT\ /s

and yet the path (unshortedned to 8.3) is

c:\my documents\decca\docroot\

yet if I put that into the ATTRIB string (ie include the space after 'my' and the full string for 'documents') I get 'parameter value not allowed' - I guess cause it doesn't like the space.

any ideas?

DOS, God love it, huh?

Ian

jhance

Then try it like:

ATTRIB -R "c:\my documents\decca\docroot" /s

cath

ASKER

nope, says 'File not found - c:\my documents\decca\docroot

I tried it with a trailing \ as well (ie ..\docroot\)

and got path not found...

annoying...

any ideas?

Ian

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jhance

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cath

ASKER

well I can't see a filename extension on the end of the directory...

I do DIR /P

and I get a list of directories of which one is

MYDOCU~1

so then I try

ATTRIB -R "C:\MYDOCU~1\DECCA\DOCROOT" /s

and then I try

ATTRIB -R "C:\MY DOCUMENTS\DECCA\DOCROOT" /s

and neither works. Both times I get 'File not found...'

I mean what _is_ it with DOS? This is so easy in Linux...

I appreciate your help, though... ;-)

Ian

jhance

OK, then try...

ATTRIB -R C:\MYDOCU~1\DECCA\DOCROOT\*.* /s