What is wrong with this syntax?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wowbagger
  • Start date Start date
W

Wowbagger

Guest
Executing this script on a 2003 server results in an error claiming that the
syntax is incorrect. What am I missing here? This script works perfectly
on an XP machine.

-- script begins --

c:
cd "c:\shared\RE Photos"

if not exist thumbs.db GOTO main

attrib -s -h thumbs.db
del thumbs.db

:main
if not exist #Numbered GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist 0*.* move 0*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 1*.* move 1*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 2*.* move 2*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 3*.* move 3*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 4*.* move 4*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 5*.* move 5*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 6*.* move 6*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 7*.* move 7*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 8*.* move 8*.* #Numbered /Y
if exist 9*.* move 9*.* #Numbered /Y

if not exist -a GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist a*.* move a*.* -a /Y

if not exist -b GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist b*.* move b*.* -b /Y

if not exist -c GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist c*.* move c*.* -c /Y

if not exist -d-f GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist d*.* move d*.* -d-f /Y
if exist e*.* move e*.* -d-f /Y
if exist f*.* move f*.* -d-f /Y

if not exist -g-i GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist g*.* move g*.* -g-i /Y
if exist h*.* move h*.* -g-i /Y
if exist i*.* move i*.* -g-i /Y

if not exist -j-l GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist j*.* move j*.* -j-l /Y
if exist k*.* move k*.* -j-l /Y
if exist l*.* move l*.* -j-l /Y

if not exist -m-n GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist m*.* move m*.* -m-n /Y
if exist n*.* move n*.* -m-n /Y

if not exist -o-r GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist o*.* move o*.* -o-r /Y
if exist p*.* move p*.* -o-r /Y
if exist q*.* move q*.* -o-r /Y
if exist r*.* move r*.* -o-r /Y

if not exist -s-t GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist s*.* move s*.* -s-t /Y
if exist t*.* move t*.* -s-t /Y

if not exist -u-x GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist u*.* move u*.* -u-x /Y
if exist v*.* move v*.* -u-x /Y
if exist w*.* move w*.* -u-x /Y
if exist x*.* move x*.* -u-x /Y

if not exist -y-z GOTO error_missing_dir
if exist y*.* move y*.* -y-z /Y
if exist z*.* move z*.* -y-z /Y

GOTO END

:error_missing_dir
@echo ERROR! Destination directory missing. Process halted.

:END
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?


"Wowbagger" <Wowbagger~~> wrote in message
news:%23ZCHDr$RIHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Executing this script on a 2003 server results in an error claiming that
> the
> syntax is incorrect. What am I missing here? This script works perfectly
> on an XP machine.
>
> -- script begins --
>
> c:
> cd "c:\shared\RE Photos"
>
> if not exist thumbs.db GOTO main
>
> attrib -s -h thumbs.db
> del thumbs.db
>
> :main
> if not exist #Numbered GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist 0*.* move 0*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 1*.* move 1*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 2*.* move 2*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 3*.* move 3*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 4*.* move 4*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 5*.* move 5*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 6*.* move 6*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 7*.* move 7*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 8*.* move 8*.* #Numbered /Y
> if exist 9*.* move 9*.* #Numbered /Y
>
> if not exist -a GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist a*.* move a*.* -a /Y
>
> if not exist -b GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist b*.* move b*.* -b /Y
>
> if not exist -c GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist c*.* move c*.* -c /Y
>
> if not exist -d-f GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist d*.* move d*.* -d-f /Y
> if exist e*.* move e*.* -d-f /Y
> if exist f*.* move f*.* -d-f /Y
>
> if not exist -g-i GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist g*.* move g*.* -g-i /Y
> if exist h*.* move h*.* -g-i /Y
> if exist i*.* move i*.* -g-i /Y
>
> if not exist -j-l GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist j*.* move j*.* -j-l /Y
> if exist k*.* move k*.* -j-l /Y
> if exist l*.* move l*.* -j-l /Y
>
> if not exist -m-n GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist m*.* move m*.* -m-n /Y
> if exist n*.* move n*.* -m-n /Y
>
> if not exist -o-r GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist o*.* move o*.* -o-r /Y
> if exist p*.* move p*.* -o-r /Y
> if exist q*.* move q*.* -o-r /Y
> if exist r*.* move r*.* -o-r /Y
>
> if not exist -s-t GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist s*.* move s*.* -s-t /Y
> if exist t*.* move t*.* -s-t /Y
>
> if not exist -u-x GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist u*.* move u*.* -u-x /Y
> if exist v*.* move v*.* -u-x /Y
> if exist w*.* move w*.* -u-x /Y
> if exist x*.* move x*.* -u-x /Y
>
> if not exist -y-z GOTO error_missing_dir
> if exist y*.* move y*.* -y-z /Y
> if exist z*.* move z*.* -y-z /Y
>
> GOTO END
>
> :error_missing_dir
> @echo ERROR! Destination directory missing. Process halted.
>
> :END

You posted 75 lines of code for respondents to analyse. If you
start your batch file with "@echo on" then you will see the
offending line on the screen, thus saving us the labour of
analysing each and every line of your code. Please post that
line so that we can take it from there.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:eKvolOBSIHA.3516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> You posted 75 lines of code for respondents to analyse. If you
> start your batch file with "@echo on" then you will see the
> offending line on the screen, thus saving us the labour of
> analysing each and every line of your code. Please post that
> line so that we can take it from there.

The execution of every one of the move commands results in the same error:

> if exist g*.* move g*.* -g-i /Y
The syntax of the command is incorrect.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?


"Wowbagger" <Wowbagger~~> wrote in message
news:%23HdjSJNSIHA.5104@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:eKvolOBSIHA.3516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
>> You posted 75 lines of code for respondents to analyse. If you
>> start your batch file with "@echo on" then you will see the
>> offending line on the screen, thus saving us the labour of
>> analysing each and every line of your code. Please post that
>> line so that we can take it from there.
>
> The execution of every one of the move commands results in the same error:
>
>> if exist g*.* move g*.* -g-i /Y
> The syntax of the command is incorrect.
>
>

A small amount of experimentation reveals that the position
of the /Y switch is critical under Win2003: it must be placed
after the "move" command.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:OmZLADOSIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> A small amount of experimentation reveals that the position
> of the /Y switch is critical under Win2003: it must be placed
> after the "move" command.

Thank you. This solves most of the problem, but there is still an oddity:

Some of the commands work, others will not. For example,

C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist o*.* move /Y o*.* .\-o-r
C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist p*.* move /Y p*.* .\-o-r
C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist q*.* move /Y q*.* .\-o-r
C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist y*.* move /Y y*.* .\-y-z

All work perfectly, but

C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist z*.* move /Y z*.* .\-y-z
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

What is special about r*.* and z*.*?
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?


"Wowbagger" <Wowbagger~~> wrote in message
news:e4AAcKOSIHA.3516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:OmZLADOSIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>> A small amount of experimentation reveals that the position
>> of the /Y switch is critical under Win2003: it must be placed
>> after the "move" command.
>
> Thank you. This solves most of the problem, but there is still an oddity:
>
> Some of the commands work, others will not. For example,
>
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist o*.* move /Y o*.* .\-o-r
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist p*.* move /Y p*.* .\-o-r
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist q*.* move /Y q*.* .\-o-r
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist y*.* move /Y y*.* .\-y-z
>
> All work perfectly, but
>
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r
> The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
>
> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist z*.* move /Y z*.* .\-y-z
> The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
>
> What is special about r*.* and z*.*?
>
>

The command

if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r

works perfectly well on my Win2003 machine, provided that
there is an "-o-r" folder hanging off the current folder. By the
way, what's the dot doing in front of the backslash? If "-o-r"
is a root directory then the command should read

if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* \-o-r

and if if it hangs off the current directory then it should be

if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* -o-r

Having the dot there makes no sense.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:%23oSaZyRSIHA.2000@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist q*.* move /Y q*.* .\-o-r

>> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r

> if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r
>
> works perfectly well on my Win2003 machine, provided that
> there is an "-o-r" folder hanging off the current folder.

That's the odd part - the q*.* files move into the -o-r folder without any
difficulty but trying to move the r*.* files generates the error.

> By the way, what's the dot doing in front of the backslash?

An artifact from my troubleshooting attempts. By using the .\ I was
explicitly declaring that the destination folder is located off of the
current folder, just in case the system was doing something even stranger
than what it is.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?


"Wowbagger" <Wowbagger~~> wrote in message
news:uYOszDVSIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:%23oSaZyRSIHA.2000@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist q*.* move /Y q*.* .\-o-r
>
>>> C:\Shared\RE Photos>if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r
>
>> if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* .\-o-r
>>
>> works perfectly well on my Win2003 machine, provided that
>> there is an "-o-r" folder hanging off the current folder.
>
> That's the odd part - the q*.* files move into the -o-r folder without any
> difficulty but trying to move the r*.* files generates the error.
>
>> By the way, what's the dot doing in front of the backslash?
>
> An artifact from my troubleshooting attempts. By using the .\ I was
> explicitly declaring that the destination folder is located off of the
> current folder, just in case the system was doing something even stranger
> than what it is.
>

I suspect you have something else starting with the letter "r".

Let's keep things simple: To move files from the current
folder to the "-o-r" folder, it is sufficient to write

if exist r*.* move /Y r*.* -o-r

Adding extra dots and slashes only confuses the issue.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

> I suspect you have something else starting with the letter "r".

This was exactly it, thank you.
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?


"Wowbagger" <Wowbagger~~> wrote in message
news:u18aCuXSIHA.5524@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
>
>> I suspect you have something else starting with the letter "r".
>
> This was exactly it, thank you.
>

You're welcome.

If it is your job to maintain servers then you might find it
advantageous to be a little inquisitive. Look at your problems
from all sides, try this and that, and in many cases you will find
an easy solution. This is precisely what I did with our initial
problem regarding the syntax error: I started playing with your
command until I found that it was sensitive to the order of the
parameters. Same with the second problem: Since it made no
sense that Windows would treat "r" files differently from "s" or
"a" files, there had to be something unexpected on your disk
that started with "r".
 
Re: What is wrong with this syntax?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:%23Ak4RzXSIHA.4152@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> If it is your job to maintain servers then you might find it
> advantageous to be a little inquisitive.

What was driving me nuts was that the syntax was working perfectly as is if
I ran it from an XP box, but wasn't working when I executed it from the
server. I never would have suspected in a million years that they would
make a change like that.
 

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