DOCUMENT:Q37950 17-DEC-2000 [msdos] TITLE :Using Asterisk Wildcard Expansion with Trailing Characters PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= The asterisk (*) wildcard ignores any combination of trailing characters specified after the wildcard in either the filename or the extension. Thus, the following two MS-DOS commands have the same result, even though they have different file specifications: DEL *.DAT DEL *h.DAT This is due to the definition of the "*" wildcard, and how it is expanded. Please exercise caution when using the wildcard in destructive MS-DOS commands, such as DEL or ERASE. We strongly recommended that you use the exact wildcard combination in a DIR command first to examine the outcome prior to issuing any other command. This may alert you to any potential consequences of the command syntax prior to any destructive executions. Additional query words: 6.22 4.00 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a Version : MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.