[Solved] All but the 1st 2 files

[DynV]

For a batch file, I'd like to do a dir in a sub-directory of %APPDATA% using a pattern on file names which will be different each time. IMHO the dir options (ie /on) nor the directory name neither the pattern doesn't need to be specified to get the help. I'd like to do an operation on all but the first 2 files listed by the dir. The end/final operation in question is del.

I don't think the end operation matter as I doubt it has an option to do what I want : skip the 1st 2 files (should there be more than 2). I'd likely have to do some kind of loop ; 1st creating a counter incrementing it each iteration, in the iteration a verification would be made if the counter is greater than 2 (hopefully a constant can be used instead of 2), if passed the end command would be applied to the file name. That of course is just a way to do it, and there could be better ones depending on the availability of (complex) commands/scripts.

Here's an example:

dir /b OPT2 DIR1
fileA
fileB
fileG
fileH
fileT

and as the 1st 2 are fileA & fileB, the is a del for each of the following files ; so del fileG, del fileH & del fileT.

[foxidrive]

Make sure that c:\folder is the right location and you haven't made a typo. test it well and then remove the echo keyword

Code: Select all

@echo off
cd /d "c:\folder" && for /f "skip=2 delims=" %%a in ('dir /b OPT2 DIR1') do echo del "%%a"

[DynV]

As you may see from the post subject, I marked the thread as solved. Thank you kindly for your help with that. There's a small issue left but it's not so important.

Outside the deletes mentioned up to here, I have a "normal" delete which will likely function adequately most times I run the batch file but sometimes no file will match the pattern and it will give an error with the following message: Could Not Find DIR1\PATTERN1. Is there a way to 1st check if a file match the pattern? I hoped del itself had something but it doesn't look like it.

[Squashman]

redirect standard error to nul and you won't see the error.

[foxidrive]

Either of these will stop the message:

Code: Select all

If exist "DIR1\PATTERN1" del "DIR1\PATTERN1"

Code: Select all

del "DIR1\PATTERN1" 2>nul

[DynV]

I love that if exist trick. I doesn't mess the exit code.

Thanks!