XCOPY Prompt

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:54:04 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

I had one of those "Huh??" moments when I read that. :-)

--

Char Jackson

On 27/04/2012 05:46, Char Jackson wrote:
On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:28:22 +0100, wrote:

On 26/04/2012 03:27, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:44:55 +0100, wrote:

On 25/04/2012 15:48, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:36:04 +0100, wrote:

On 25/04/2012 02:39, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:45:33 +0100, wrote:

The simplest way is to copy and paste the file to another folder, rename
it there and then drag and drop it to the original folder. IF they are
in different drives then use the CUT& PASTE method.If you want both
copies of the file in the same folder that is...

Remember the motto, *Keep it simple*.

There's nothing "simple" about all of that rigmarole. I fail to see
the reason, and I fail to see why it would be any easier, to rename
files in one folder versus another. Just rename them where they lie.

But I thought he wanted *two* copies of the same file under different
names. Hence my suggestion... Got it?!

That's where xcopy (and copy, etc.) come in. They do exactly that, but
without requiring you to move files somewhere else first.

Otherwise you can rename a file in loco as you suggest. But you cannot
rename a file in loco and still retain the old version with the old
original filename.

That's where xcopy (and copy, etc.) come in. They do exactly that, but
without requiring you to move files somewhere else first.

I sound like a broken record, but these kinds of basic file operations
are, well, basic. They've been with us for over 30 years now.

No need for xcopy at all. Just open the file, *Save as...* and give it a
different filename -- may I suggest a dash or an underscore just before
the dot and the file extension e.g. Filename-.doc or Filename_.doc And
it's done! And you have 2 copies in the same folder.

There's no need to open any files. You seem to have a knack for coming
up with convoluted solutions. :-)


It is *YOU* who keeps coming up with convoluted solutions to the
simplest of procedures.

Really? I'm pretty sure it was you who suggested moving the files to
another directory, renaming them there, and then moving the renamed
files back, versus simply renaming the files where they happened to
be. I'm also pretty sure it was you who suggested opening the files in
their native application and saving them with a new name. Both of
those solutions pale in comparison to simply renaming the files, in
this case via the xcopy command. Am I missing something?

Anyway, this thing about having two copies of the same file in the same
folder but under different names is about the stupidest thing that I
have ever come across in the field of computing.

People often label something stupid (or worse) until they understand
it. If you think about it a bit, I'm sure you'll see that it's
completely valid.

Well, it's either I or you who has got it wrong. But FYI here is what
Witcherenko write...

I want a copy with a different name.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

i.e. he wants a copy of the file under a different name (and in the same
folder...OR do you want me to quote him about that also?

How can you rename a file in its native folder and still retain the file
with the old filename?

I wonder whether it is I or you who misread him?
-- choro

On 27/04/2012 08:13, Char Jackson wrote:
On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:54:04 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

I had one of those "Huh??" moments when I read that. :-)

True, it *is* difficult to find the desktop. How many times did you just
put something by and couldn't find it moments later despite searching
for it for over half an hour?

These things DO happen, you know. ****, where's MY desktop gone now?
There is a big blonde with huge tits covering up all my screen. And my
desktop has disappeared into thin air!

*Help! HELP!!!* I can't find the desktop!!!
-- choro

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:54:04 +0200, "Steve Hayes"
wrote in article
...

On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:13:02 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

The file is on, what Windows calls, the desktop. Click on the batch file
and away we go. :-)

I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

I keep all my .BATs in C:\belfry, have C:\belfry in the path, so click on the
command line icon on the desktop, type the name of the batch file, and it
works.

DR-DOS had some useful commands like XDEL, which worked in Windows 98, but
doesn't seem to work in XP or later.

Since no one has yet pointed you to the location of the desktop, it can
be found in %userprofile%\desktop on most Windows systems (you can
configure things so that it is elsewhere, but that's pretty uncommon.)
In Windows 7 that ends up being C:\Users\username\desktop for a
standard setup.

FYI

--
Zaphod

Vell, Zaphod's just zis guy, ya know? - Gag Halfrunt

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.


--
“There is no worse tyranny than to force a man
to pay for what he does not want merely because
you think it would be good for him.”
? Robert A. Heinlein

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:16:48 +0100, choro wrote:

On 27/04/2012 05:46, Char Jackson wrote:

People often label something stupid (or worse) until they understand
it. If you think about it a bit, I'm sure you'll see that it's
completely valid.

Well, it's either I or you who has got it wrong. But FYI here is what
Witcherenko write...

I want a copy with a different name.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

i.e. he wants a copy of the file under a different name (and in the same
folder...OR do you want me to quote him about that also?

Yep, that's what he wants. I don't see a problem with it.

How can you rename a file in its native folder and still retain the file
with the old filename?

By using the copy command, or one of its variants such as xcopy.

I wonder whether it is I or you who misread him?

You probably know the answer to that by now. ;-)

--

Char Jackson

On 4/27/2012, Char Jackson posted:
On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:16:48 +0100, choro wrote:

On 27/04/2012 05:46, Char Jackson wrote:

People often label something stupid (or worse) until they understand
it. If you think about it a bit, I'm sure you'll see that it's
completely valid.

Well, it's either I or you who has got it wrong. But FYI here is what
Witcherenko write...

I want a copy with a different name.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

i.e. he wants a copy of the file under a different name (and in the same
folder...OR do you want me to quote him about that also?

Yep, that's what he wants. I don't see a problem with it.

How can you rename a file in its native folder and still retain the file
with the old filename?

By using the copy command, or one of its variants such as xcopy.

I wonder whether it is I or you who misread him?

You probably know the answer to that by now. ;-)

Hmm...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 4/26/2012, Steve Hayes posted:
The file is on, what Windows calls, the desktop. Click on the batch file
and away we go. :-)

I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

The desktop is very hard - really impossible - to miss. I completely
fail to understand what you mean.

Or are you trying to say you can't open it as a folder in Windows
Explorer? My remark above still applies, but try these two methods:

1. Open Explorer. Click on C: in the left pane (the Navigation Pane).
Then in the Right Pane (the File Pane), double click on Users and then
your username. Finally double click on Desktop, also in the right pane.

2. Click on the Start Orb and enter shell:desktop in the search box.
Press Enter.

And others have also given useful suggestions in this subthread.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:26:30 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.

--

Char Jackson

On 4/29/2012 8:16 PM, Char Jackson wrote:
On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:26:30 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.


:-)


--
“There is no worse tyranny than to force a man
to pay for what he does not want merely because
you think it would be good for him.”
? Robert A. Heinlein

On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:16:57 -0500, Char Jackson wrote:

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:26:30 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.

It may not be secret or hidden but it's bloody hard to find.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%Steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\Steve\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.



--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:55:14 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:16:57 -0500, Char Jackson wrote:

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:26:30 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.

It may not be secret or hidden but it's bloody hard to find.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%Steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\Steve\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

Try "dir %userprofile%\desktop" and I think you'll be pleasantly
surprised.

Or if you'd rather, try "C:\Users\Steve\Desktop" which might also
work, assuming "Steve" is your current profile name.

It wasn't really that hard, was it?

--

Char Jackson

On 29 Apr 2012, Steve Hayes wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:16:57 -0500, Char Jackson
wrote:

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.

It may not be secret or hidden but it's bloody hard to find.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%Steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\Steve\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

Are you deliberately not following his instructions? The correct
command is:

dir %userprofile%\desktop\

"%userprofile%" is a system variable that expands to the location of
the current user's profile. There is no variable by the name of
%steve%. You shouldn't have used it.

Unless you have a non-standard installation, the above command is
equivalent to:

dir c:\Users\Steve\Desktop\

The desktop is not hidden or hard to find. If you use the variable in
your batch file, it will work for all users, not just you.

You can see most or all available variables and their current values by
typing, at the command prompts, "SET" (without the quotes.) If you want
to see the contents of a particular variable, type at the command
prompt, "echo %VariableName%" (no quotes, insert the name of the
variable you're interested in.)

On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:37:35 -0500, Char Jackson wrote:

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:55:14 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:16:57 -0500, Char Jackson wrote:

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:26:30 +0200, Steve Hayes
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:52:50 -0700, Bob Hatch wrote:

On 4/26/2012 10:54 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I don't put anything on the desktop except icons that are shortcuts to
programs elsewhere. The main reason is that I can't find the desktop to edit
the files.

If it's a batch file, right click, select edit.

That will not edit it in the program I want to edit it in nor will it tell me
the path to put in the batch file to copy it to the flash drive.

copy c:\desktop\desktop J: just doesn't work.

The desktop doesn't tell me the path to itself.

As someone (Zaphod?) posted earlier in this thread, the path is
%userprofile%\desktop. Or, you can always use the fully qualified
path, if that's easier. Either way, it's not exactly a secret or
hidden in any way.

It may not be secret or hidden but it's bloody hard to find.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\%Steve%\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Stevedir c:\Steve\desktop
The system cannot find the file specified.

Try "dir %userprofile%\desktop" and I think you'll be pleasantly
surprised.

Or if you'd rather, try "C:\Users\Steve\Desktop" which might also
work, assuming "Steve" is your current profile name.

It wasn't really that hard, was it?


Depends on who(m) you ask :-)

He's been given various methods, and even when he tried one, he managed
to not follow instructions...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)