thanks I was finally able to figure out that I couldn't use a partial wildcard :-( and was going to settle on the ending to be the date. but that meant one more file to ftp over to the file server. I suppose it would of helped to include more text. I will below, for clarification of everything needed. thanks again
Paul
$set verify
$! pjobs:ftp_rpoh_claims.jobd Paul Coviello 3/11/2003
$!
$! FTP rpoh claims to the t drive
$!
$!
$set noon
$show time
$set proc/priv=all
$!
$! Keep a copy of all todays files for one day in case this com file
$! deletes something that shouldn't be deleted
$!
$!
$!Set up symbols:
$ DATE1 = F$FAO("!2ZW", F$INTEGER(F$CVTIME(F$TIME(),,"DAY"

))
$ DATE2 = F$FAO("!2ZW", F$INTEGER(F$CVTIME(F$TIME(),,"MONTH"

))
$ TODAY = DATE2 + DATE1
$ day_of_week=f$extract(0,3,(f$cvtime(,,"weekday"

))
$ write sys$output day_of_week
$ YR=F$CVTIME(,,"YEAR"
$001_continue:
$!
$!Copy yesterdays files into archive directory then clear out files
$!from todays_files directory
$!
$ purge/keep=5 plogs:ftp_rpoh_claims.log
$!
$ dir/date/size prpohclaims:rpoh*.txt
$!
$ copy/log prpohclaims:rpoh*.txt prpohclaims:*.'tdate'
$!
$ copy/log prpohclaims:rpoh*.'tdate' dsa2:[pps.rpohclaims.archive]*.*
$!
$ delete/log/before="-90-00:00:00" dsa2:[pps.rpohclaims.archive]rpoh*.*;*
$!
$!-----------------------------------------
$!
$ SHOW TIME
$!
$!Transfer via "FTP" to FTPSERVE - t drive
$!
$
$set def dsa2:[pps.rpohclaims]
$dir rpoh*.'tdate'/size/date
$!
$set proc/priv=all
$!
$! Extra connect because sometimes 1st connect fails
$ftp
connect node
set default t:\MSO\EPIC\RPOH
dir
exit
$ftp
connect node
set default t:\MSO\EPIC\RPOH
dir
put rpoh*.*
dir
exit
$!
$! Archive to EpicData
$ftp
connect
set default v:\Archive\Claims
dir
put rpoh*.*
dir
exit
$!
$del/log rpoh*.*;*
$!
$set noverify
$!
$ MAIL/SUBJECT="FTP_CLAIMS" PJOBS:FTP_RPOH_CLAIMS.'tdate'
"@SYS$COMMON:[SYSMGR]SYSMGR.DIS
"
$!
$exit