5. Command 'DIR' and Glob pattern

Glob pattern can be used as parameters of a command.

Example:

- the 'DIR' command lists all files in a directory.
- the 'DIR' command with the parameter *.txt shows only files with the extension '.txt'

Type at the prompt (in my case D:\test>)

DIR

and press 'ENTER'. The output contains -among other things- all the files in the current directory, the entry of the subdirectory 'my Doc' inclusive.

22-01-2016	11:06	<DIR>		.
22-01-2016	11:06	<DIR>		..
22-01-2016	11:06	<DIR>		my Doc
22-01-2016	11:07		1	file1.txt
22-01-2016	11:07		1	file2.dat
22-01-2016	11:07		1	file2.txt
22-01-2016	11:07		1	file3.txt
23-01-2016	12:18		85	pic001.jpg
23-01-2016	12:18		123	pic002.jpg
25-01-2016	19:34		5.852	musicBach.mp3
25-01-2016	19:40		7.966	musicBrahms.mp3

Type at the prompt

DIR *.txt 

and press 'Enter'. The result is a list of all files with only the extension '.txt'

We investigate more Glob patterns and possibilities with the command 'COPY'.

By the way, notice that the 'DIR' command has useful switches, e.g. /OS (Order by Size), /OE (Order by Extension) and /OD (Order by Date). So, the command

DIR /OD

-after pressing 'Enter'- lists all files by date. To learn more about the 'DIR' command, type at the prompt

DIR /?

and press 'Enter'.

Reading notes for this tutorial

1. The instruction 'Press Enter' will be shortened to [ENTER].
2. The instructions 'type at the prompt' will be shortened to 'type' and each command will start with the prompt: D:\test>