Batch file anomaly... 1

[Guest_imported]

I'm writing a simple batch which will detect if a network drive exists before XCOPYing files over to it. If the drive doesn't exist then a GOTO statement should lead to a "NET USE" command. Part of the batch files looks like this:-


if exist L:\ goto COPYFILES
if not exist L:\ goto GETDRIVE

:GETDRIVE
net use L: \\LAPTOP\C

etc etc etc...


This all works fine in NT4 and W2K PRO, but for some strange reason fails to work in Windows ME!! The only way I can seemingly make it work in ME is to specify a dummy filename on the L:\ drive thus:-


if exist L:\fred.txt goto COPYFILES
if not exist L:\fred.txt goto GETDRIVE


Reading the helpfiles for the IF command, it doesn't in fact make any mention of specifying a condition for a DRIVE, only ERRORLEVEL, STRING MATCH or FILENAME.

So why does it NOT work in ME? Any clues as to what I'm doing wrong please?


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[qbasicking]

try asking someone in the Windows Me forum. Or in one of the language forums.

 

[Tels]

Errorlevel is the command that tests the result of a previous call, I don't have any examples (sorry) but I reckon thats that one you want to look at, in the form IF ERRORLEVEL = 1 or something like that........

Sorry I can't be more specific, I left DOS a long, long, long time ago (so it seems)

Hope this helps


Tels

Windows 2000 Network Administrator for pint$ = 1 to 20
for pint$ = pint$ + 1
if pint$ = 20 goto HOME
next pint$

 

[edfair]

Suspect a difference in how 95/98/me handle it versus nt/2000 family.
But why a test this way to start with? Test for mapped drive/file and go there or fallthru and process the attachment. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[JohnS9051]

IF EXIST L: or IF EXIST L:\ will test for a drive or directory in WinNT or Win2000 but not in DOS, Win95/98/ME.

For WinME you must use:
IF EXIST L:\NUL to test for a directory
L:\ is a directory - the root directory of drive L:

Hope this helps. Good luck.

John

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks guys, I'll check it out at the weekend... Reason for testing if drive is there, means if it ain't, then the PC (illiterate!) operator gets a clear message summat's wrong, and doesn't get a "DOS" type message which might confuse the heck out of him!

ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks JohnS9051 - it worked a treat!


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[JohnS9051]

Glad I could help.

John