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Batch file to replace semicolons in text files with tildes.

I have text files in a folder (C:\tracking). I would like a batch file that will do a find and replace ove all the text inside the files that will change all of the semicolons (;) with the tilde (`).

I'm trying to get to files delimited with tildes (vendor import file requirement) from a system that will export files only with semicolons as delimters.

Can anyone help? (I've looked at almost every post in this place - going on 3 hours of trying now....I give up!!)

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Julian Hansen

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Preece

If using vb or vbscript is an option, this may be pretty easy...

BTW, this is a tilde: ~

phonglong

Doing a find and replace is beyond the scope of batch files. What you can do instead is to write a very simple program, be it in C, VB, and write a batch file to process each of the exported files.

Also, when changing how a data file is delimited, i'd be very carefull, as the original program expects and handles the semicolon... so if you change all the ; to ', then if there are any occurances of the ' in the files, you're converted data will be corrupt.

tmhechler

ASKER

I found two that I put together that worked. However, it will work on XP, but not on Win 2000. Any suggestions?

*****************begin batch file***********************

@echo off
SET replace=
FIND /V "&" < import.dat> toproc.dat
FOR /F "tokens=1 delims=" %%i IN (toproc.dat) DO (
SET replace=%%i
CALL :PROCESS
)

FIND "&" < import.dat >>importnew.txt
DEL toproc.dat
:: MOVE /Y importnew.txt import.dat
GOTO End

:PROCESS
ECHO %replace:;=~%>>importnew.txt

:END

*****************end batch file*********************