I issue the DOS cmd "Copy C:\BackUp\ *1.zip C:\Temp" in a batch file. It is supposed to copy all of the .zip files that end with a "1". But it also copies a file named Music5.zip and does NOT copy Music4.zip So is it looking "inside" the zip files for file names ending in "1"? Thanks == I may not have the appropriate tags, sorry ==

Hello anonymous user Zuckerman-7337, Can you try issuing the command "dir /x Music5.zip" (assuming that Music5.zip is in the current directory)? The "/x" options shows the "8.3" name of the file (if present). There is no reason why "Music5.zip" should have an 8.3 name (since it is already in that format), but it would be good to check. The base part of the automatically generated 8.3 names often end in something like "~1" (the final letter is just chosen to make the chosen name unique among existing files in the directory, so ~2, ~3, etc. can also be observed). Gary

Copying ZIP files - Microsoft Q&A

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Gary Nebbett 5,721 Reputation points

2021-04-12T06:58:18.04+00:00

Hello anonymous userZuckerman-7337,

Can you try issuing the command "dir /x Music5.zip" (assuming that Music5.zip is in the current directory)? The "/x" options shows the "8.3" name of the file (if present). There is no reason why "Music5.zip" should have an 8.3 name (since it is already in that format), but it would be good to check. The base part of the automatically generated 8.3 names often end in something like "~1" (the final letter is just chosen to make the chosen name unique among existing files in the directory, so ~2, ~3, etc. can also be observed).

Gary
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Fred Zuckerman 21 Reputation points

2021-04-12T07:01:02.577+00:00

Ooh, good point. I'll try that & post back. Tks

Fred Zuckerman 21 Reputation points

2021-04-12T15:30:52.877+00:00

Thank You GaryNebbett!!
That was the problem.
The file was previously named ThumbMusic5.zip and had 8.3 file name of ThumbM~1.zip
I deleted the file and re-created it as Music5.zip.
Then tried Dir /x and confirmed the 8.3 file name.
Batch file works great now,
Thank you!
Fred

Viorel 112.5K Reputation points

2021-04-12T17:41:28.59+00:00

So it was not called Music5.zip?

Fred Zuckerman 21 Reputation points

2021-04-12T17:57:24.633+00:00

Not originally.
Originally it was ThumbMusic5.zip

Gary Nebbett 5,721 Reputation points

2021-04-12T18:29:00.86+00:00

Hello anonymous userZuckerman-7337 & @Viorel ,

I understand Viorel-1's surprise - it was also my expectation that Windows would maintain consistency between the "long" (non-8.3 name) and the 8.3 name. I also can't understand how renaming "ThumbMusic5.zip" to "Music5.zip" would result in a file with a long name of "Music5.zip" and an 8.3 name of "ThumbM~1.zip". Can you (very explicitly, step for step) describe how this might have happened?

Gary

Fred Zuckerman 21 Reputation points

2021-04-12T19:23:55.373+00:00

I may be confused. I've been making so many changes.

One of the files was named ThumbMusic1.zip it was being copied as well as ThumbMusic5.zip

It was not a major problem, just an irritation. I asked the question online and figured it would take a while.

I was also reorganizing my backup procedures. I have 5 backups of my files 1 thru 5, 1 being the most recent.. Somewhere along the way I changed all the filenames ThumbMusic1, ThumbMusic2,
etc to Music1.zip, etc.

I may have made that change AFTER posting my question.

So everything works now. It was probably working right after I changed filenames. I apologize for wasting everyone's time. But I DID learn about 8.3 filenames and the ~1 conventions.

Gary Nebbett 5,721 Reputation points

2021-04-12T19:32:29.96+00:00

Hello anonymous userZuckerman-7337,

Thanks for the update. I have a fairly good memory and our exchange might have led to a doubt in my mind about how Windows manages long names and "8.3" names. There is now enough ambiguity about how things came to pass that I can happily believe my original understanding still stands :-)

Gary
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Copying ZIP files

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