Q77856: IF EXIST Finds Hidden and System Files

Article: Q77856
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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SUMMARY
=======

The IF EXIST command finds system and hidden files. You may encounter a
situation in which IF EXIST finds a file and then the specified action on that
file fails. It is possible that the IF EXISTS command is finding a file with
hidden or system attributes and the specified action fails on a hidden file.

MORE INFORMATION
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To duplicate this problem, create a file called TEST.TXT and give the file
system or hidden attributes using the ATTRIB command. Next, execute the
following command:

  if exist test.txt del test.txt

Upon execution, the above command will return

  FILE NOT FOUND
  Access Denied

The IF EXIST command finds the file even though it has a hidden attribute, but
the DEL command does not recognize hidden or system files. The solution is to
remove the system and/or hidden attributes. The IF EXIST command will then
function correctly.


Additional query words: 6.22 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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