Very Computer

by **Christian Lawso** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:16:18

You have to have the windows 2000 resource kit or support tools for this to
work, forgot which one.

> It works for me. I have been using this "undocumented" feature for many
> years now!

> -Ajay

> > Hi,

> > by accident I found out that, for example

> > cd a*

> > changes to a directory that name begins with an "a" (or "A"). If there
> > are multiple matching directories, CD changes to the first match.

> Am I doing wrong?

> ====================================================
> d:\data\bat\help>ver

> Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]

> d:\data\bat\help>dir c* /ad
> Volume in drive D is Data
> Volume Serial Number is 549E-D90B

> Directory of d:\data\bat\help

> 15/03/02 08:19 <DIR> cal
> 07/03/02 14:17 <DIR> cmdproc
> 18/05/02 12:33 <DIR> comma
> 18/03/02 04:46 <DIR> cx
> 0 File(s) 0 bytes
> 4 Dir(s) 5,354,176,512 bytes free

> d:\data\bat\help>cd c*
> The directory name is invalid.

> d:\data\bat\help>chdir c*
> The directory name is invalid.
> =======================================================
> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Ned Flander** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:26:56

See my post below for the explanation :-)

Quote:
> I've seen this work on some machines and not work on others. I've never
> taken the time to figure out why, since I use the command completion
> characters instead. In fact, maybe command completion characters being
> enabled/disabled has something to do with it.

by **Ned Flander** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:20:24

Not actually wrong, it's the pattern matching that's *ing you up :-)

If you have, as example, a file named
snurgle.txt
and a directory named
Snork
in the current dir, then CD S* returns the "The directory name is invalid."
message, as does CD SN*.
However:
CD SNO*
*does* work, as the parser can now determine you're not trying to CD to a
filename. Do you see what's happening?

This behaviour has been around since NT 4, btw. I can't recall if it was
there in 3.1/3.5x - too long ago now ;-)

Quote:> > Hi,

> > by accident I found out that, for example

> > cd a*

> > changes to a directory that name begins with an "a" (or "A"). If there
> > are multiple matching directories, CD changes to the first match.

> Am I doing wrong?

> ====================================================
> d:\data\bat\help>ver

> Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]

> d:\data\bat\help>dir c* /ad
> Volume in drive D is Data
> Volume Serial Number is 549E-D90B

> Directory of d:\data\bat\help

> 15/03/02 08:19 <DIR> cal
> 07/03/02 14:17 <DIR> cmdproc
> 18/05/02 12:33 <DIR> comma
> 18/03/02 04:46 <DIR> cx
> 0 File(s) 0 bytes
> 4 Dir(s) 5,354,176,512 bytes free

> d:\data\bat\help>cd c*
> The directory name is invalid.

> d:\data\bat\help>chdir c*
> The directory name is invalid.
> =======================================================
> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Ajay K. Agrawa** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:19:35

I don't believe this to be the case.

-Ajay

You have to have the windows 2000 resource kit or support tools for this to
work, forgot which one.

> It works for me. I have been using this "undocumented" feature for many
> years now!

> -Ajay

> > Hi,

> > by accident I found out that, for example

> > cd a*

> > changes to a directory that name begins with an "a" (or "A"). If there
> > are multiple matching directories, CD changes to the first match.

> Am I doing wrong?

> ====================================================
> d:\data\bat\help>ver

> Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]

> d:\data\bat\help>dir c* /ad
> Volume in drive D is Data
> Volume Serial Number is 549E-D90B

> Directory of d:\data\bat\help

> 15/03/02 08:19 <DIR> cal
> 07/03/02 14:17 <DIR> cmdproc
> 18/05/02 12:33 <DIR> comma
> 18/03/02 04:46 <DIR> cx
> 0 File(s) 0 bytes
> 4 Dir(s) 5,354,176,512 bytes free

> d:\data\bat\help>cd c*
> The directory name is invalid.

> d:\data\bat\help>chdir c*
> The directory name is invalid.
> =======================================================
> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Marty Lis** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:21:40

I've seen this work on some machines and not work on others. I've never
taken the time to figure out why, since I use the command completion
characters instead. In fact, maybe command completion characters being
enabled/disabled has something to do with it.

> It works for me. I have been using this "undocumented" feature for many
> years now!

> -Ajay

> > Hi,

> > by accident I found out that, for example

> > cd a*

> > changes to a directory that name begins with an "a" (or "A"). If there
> > are multiple matching directories, CD changes to the first match.

> Am I doing wrong?

> ====================================================
> d:\data\bat\help>ver

> Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]

> d:\data\bat\help>dir c* /ad
> Volume in drive D is Data
> Volume Serial Number is 549E-D90B

> Directory of d:\data\bat\help

> 15/03/02 08:19 <DIR> cal
> 07/03/02 14:17 <DIR> cmdproc
> 18/05/02 12:33 <DIR> comma
> 18/03/02 04:46 <DIR> cx
> 0 File(s) 0 bytes
> 4 Dir(s) 5,354,176,512 bytes free

> d:\data\bat\help>cd c*
> The directory name is invalid.

> d:\data\bat\help>chdir c*
> The directory name is invalid.
> =======================================================
> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Ned Flander** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 04:22:13

No, it's part of the CMD interpreter. No addon software required. :-)

Quote:> You have to have the windows 2000 resource kit or support tools for this
to
> work, forgot which one.

by **Ritchi** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 06:39:22

Quote:> *does* work, as the parser can now determine you're not trying to CD to a
> filename. Do you see what's happening?

Heeeey... its works!!!, I see what you mean. I had a quick play around
and on my system the commands:-

'cd p*\m* o*\o*' changes to 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office'

'cd * *' changes to 'C:\Documents and Settings'

...More experimentation is called for I think.

I can't believe you Guys have been so selfish and kept this under wraps for
over four years ;)

Thanks, FP and Ned

--
Ritchie
Undo address for mail

by **Ned Flander** » Thu, 24 Oct 2002 11:12:07

I just *knew* you'd be a quick study :-)

Quote:> > *does* work, as the parser can now determine you're not trying to CD to
a
> > filename. Do you see what's happening?

> Heeeey... its works!!!, I see what you mean. I had a quick play around
> and on my system the commands:-

> 'cd p*\m* o*\o*' changes to 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office'

> 'cd * *' changes to 'C:\Documents and Settings'

> ...More experimentation is called for I think.

> I can't believe you Guys have been so selfish and kept this under wraps
for
> over four years ;)

> Thanks, FP and Ned

> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Joe Richards [MVP** » Fri, 25 Oct 2002 12:37:24

This is one of those things that I just figured everyone knew... How
strange, I've been doing it for years myself though I still want an NCD
program.

--
---
Joe Richards
www.joeware.net
---

Quote:> > *does* work, as the parser can now determine you're not trying to CD to
a
> > filename. Do you see what's happening?

> Heeeey... its works!!!, I see what you mean. I had a quick play around
> and on my system the commands:-

> 'cd p*\m* o*\o*' changes to 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office'

> 'cd * *' changes to 'C:\Documents and Settings'

> ...More experimentation is called for I think.

> I can't believe you Guys have been so selfish and kept this under wraps
for
> over four years ;)

> Thanks, FP and Ned

> --
> Ritchie
> Undo address for mail

by **Ned Flander** » Fri, 25 Oct 2002 14:02:18

Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware one (hell,
I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like aeons
now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

Quote:> This is one of those things that I just figured everyone knew... How
> strange, I've been doing it for years myself though I still want an NCD
> program.

by **Joe Richards [MVP** » Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:31:18

It is on my wish list... With about 18,000 other things. The company I do
work for has been keeping me extremely busy this last year, I'm lucky when I
don't spend 12 hours at the office anymore. The joeware tools I have worked
on lately with the exception of one have all been specifically for them.

--
Joe Richards
www.joeware.net
---

> Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware one
(hell,
> I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like aeons
> now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

> > This is one of those things that I just figured everyone knew... How
> > strange, I've been doing it for years myself though I still want an NCD
> > program.

by **Ned Flander** » Mon, 28 Oct 2002 16:18:12

:-(

Well, I'll wait for a lull in your schedule then... ;-)

> It is on my wish list... With about 18,000 other things. The company I do
> work for has been keeping me extremely busy this last year, I'm lucky when
I
> don't spend 12 hours at the office anymore. The joeware tools I have
worked
> on lately with the exception of one have all been specifically for them.

> --
> Joe Richards
> www.joeware.net
> ---

> > Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware one
> (hell,
> > I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like aeons
> > now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

by **Joe Richards [MVP** » Tue, 29 Oct 2002 00:29:32

Maybe we can talk Marty into * something up depending on his schedule
too....

--
Joe Richards
www.joeware.net
---

> :-(

> Well, I'll wait for a lull in your schedule then... ;-)

> > It is on my wish list... With about 18,000 other things. The company I
do
> > work for has been keeping me extremely busy this last year, I'm lucky
when
> I
> > don't spend 12 hours at the office anymore. The joeware tools I have
> worked
> > on lately with the exception of one have all been specifically for them.

> > --
> > Joe Richards
> > www.joeware.net
> > ---

> > > Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware one
> > (hell,
> > > I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like
aeons
> > > now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

by **Ned Flander** » Wed, 30 Oct 2002 01:09:10

This looks pretty dang close. Other than the batch approach I *really* like
it. The batch is a nit really, I just have to remember to CALL it if I'm
using this in another batch routine. Maybe I'll mess around and see if I
can wrap this in VBS or something to make it more "exe-like" so I don't have
to worry about breaking CMD/BAT file execution as much.

Summary: I *love* it. You are the wind beneath my wings..... ;-)

> Hmmm, sounds interesting. I haven't used ncd in years, I've forgotten
most
> of it's functionality. I remember being able to use the arrow keys for
> command completion, and I seem to remember those annoying NCDTREE folders
in
> the root.

> I have a similar program in my toolbox (that I never remember to use)
called
> wcd (Wherever Change Directory). How close does this come to ncd?
> http://www.veryComputer.com/~waterlan/

> > Maybe we can talk Marty into * something up depending on his
> schedule
> > too....

> > --
> > Joe Richards
> > www.joeware.net
> > ---

> > > :-(

> > > Well, I'll wait for a lull in your schedule then... ;-)

> > > > It is on my wish list... With about 18,000 other things. The company
I
> > do
> > > > work for has been keeping me extremely busy this last year, I'm
lucky
> > when
> > > I
> > > > don't spend 12 hours at the office anymore. The joeware tools I have
> > > worked
> > > > on lately with the exception of one have all been specifically for
> them.

> > > > --
> > > > Joe Richards
> > > > www.joeware.net
> > > > ---

> > > > > Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware
> one
> > > > (hell,
> > > > > I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like
> > aeons
> > > > > now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

by **Marty Lis** » Wed, 30 Oct 2002 00:49:04

Hmmm, sounds interesting. I haven't used ncd in years, I've forgotten most
of it's functionality. I remember being able to use the arrow keys for
command completion, and I seem to remember those annoying NCDTREE folders in
the root.

I have a similar program in my toolbox (that I never remember to use) called
wcd (Wherever Change Directory). How close does this come to ncd?
http://www.veryComputer.com/~waterlan/

> Maybe we can talk Marty into * something up depending on his
schedule
> too....

> --
> Joe Richards
> www.joeware.net
> ---

> > :-(

> > Well, I'll wait for a lull in your schedule then... ;-)

> > > It is on my wish list... With about 18,000 other things. The company I
> do
> > > work for has been keeping me extremely busy this last year, I'm lucky
> when
> > I
> > > don't spend 12 hours at the office anymore. The joeware tools I have
> > worked
> > > on lately with the exception of one have all been specifically for
them.

> > > --
> > > Joe Richards
> > > www.joeware.net
> > > ---

> > > > Ditto on the NCD replacement - I've been hunting for an LFN-aware
one
> > > (hell,
> > > > I'd be happy to find a SFN one that *worked*) for what seems like
> aeons
> > > > now....hey...waitaminute...why haven't *you* written one? <g>

Very Computer

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