Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002] 1) A Bat file, "test.bat", contains; ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_%time%.zip PAUSE 2) Execute "test.bat" and command window shows this output below on screen; ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_16:05:07.30.zip A duplicate file name exists, or the file cannot be found. ------------------------------------ Clearly windows has found the file, "PLX001.zip" because it has renamed it on screen with the time "PLX001_16:05:07.30.zip". But for some reason it still errors because it can't find it? or considers "PLX001.zip" the same name as "PLX001_16:05:07.30.zip" ? How can this be? Why won't it rename the actual file in the folder as it is doing on screen? Thank you for your time, Donald

The command processor is echoing the command, with %time% expanded, before running it. It does not mean it has found the file. I get the same result when I run the batch file, and I don't have the file. However, I get a different error message if the drive or the path are not found. I also get a different error if the path is OK but the file does not exist. However, I get your error if the file exists, but it is read-only. My guess is that the file is read-only, you lack permissions, or perhaps it is open by another process. Richard Mueller - MVP Directory Services

i think its about the ":" in the time. if you strip the ":" from the time like %time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2% it works

Thank you FZB for repling. I have been working on that exact syntax but it seems to fail to read the leading digit in the 24 hour properly and errors. The machines time format is 24hr, no AM or PM characters; HH:mm:ss and displays as; 06:21:01 ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.zip PAUSE yields; ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_ 62101.zip The syntax of the command is incorrect. The file name does not get renamed. The coding can't deal with the leading zero in the 24 display, I've tried other 12 hr display w/AM PM but it fails too (we need it in 24 hr anyways) How can I get it to work to show, PLX001_062101.zip, or when later in day when the hour is 2 digits, like 13 for 1pm? Thank you for you time, Donald

not sure about the leading zero for 1 digit hours. the syntax error comes from the space though, so that error could be avoided by using quotation marks around the second expression (like ren query.log "query%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.log")

Hi, Adding the quotes yields: "PLX001_ 75203.zip" So that won't work for single digit hours with leading zero or double digits hours. What is odd is that the string works for date stamp, ie the %date:~0,2% displays the correct 03 for march but that logic won't work using %time:~0,2% to display 07 in hour of time. Additionally odd is that this string using %time:~1,1% (with or without quotes) ren E:\ORACLE.....\PLX001.zip "PLX001_%time:~1,1%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.zip" yields: PLX001_75934.zip I wonder what will happen with a 2 digit time to evaluate? My guess is that it would return only the 2nd digit, giving the wrong time stamp. I think this is an undocumented bug in the 2008 server :( Any other ideas? I'm completely stumped...

Thank you for the reply Richard, sorry for my slow response - I'm located in Dublin, Ireland and just saw your post... I have local and domain admin permissions to the machine, folders, and file. Below renames the file in the folder as "PLX001_wishthisworked.zip". REM ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_%time%.zip ren E:\ORACLE\SQL\DMP\TESTR\PLX001.zip PLX001_wishthisworked.zip PAUSE I'm stumped :( The attribute for read-only isn't checked, I've got the permissions, and I didn't find any other processess accessing / opened by... The file is static in its own test area. Only myself and network admin has access to the machine and he is not logged on and wouldn't be touching that file if he was... How can one add the machine's time appended to a file name? It doesn't matter to me what the timestamp format is, I just need it appended to the file name as a suffix. I feel like such an idiot! as this should be child's play... Thanks, Donald

Bueler ? Anyone?.... Bueler? " Hi, Adding the quotes yields: "PLX001_ 75203.zip" So that won't work for single digit hours with leading zero or double digits hours. What is odd is that the string works for date stamp, ie the %date:~0,2% displays the correct 03 for march but that logic won't work using %time:~0,2% to display 07 in hour of time. Additionally odd is that this string using %time:~1,1% (with or without quotes) ren E:\ORACLE.....\PLX001.zip "PLX001_%time:~1,1%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.zip" yields: PLX001_75934.zip I wonder what will happen with a 2 digit time to evaluate? My guess is that it would return only the 2nd digit, giving the wrong time stamp. I think this is an undocumented bug in the 2008 server :( Any other ideas? I'm completely stumped... "

for /f "tokens=1 delims=: " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timehrs=%%a for /f "tokens=2 delims=: " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timemin=%%a for /f "tokens=3 delims=:. " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timesec=%%a ren file.bat file_%timehrs%.%timemin%.%timesec%.bat Echoing time variable uses a 24 Hour format. This should work fairly well... Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active Directory, Network Infrastructure, Application Platform, Windows 7 Microsoft Certified Product Specialist & Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Additionally... you can add this after all of the "For" statements. set ModTime=%timehrs%.%timemin%.%timesec% ren file.bat file_%modtime%.bat If you need to change the file name or do not want this to execute as a batch, you can make this a live environment variable each time you run the command prompt by saving it to your desktop as a CMD file instead of BAT. Remove the "REN" command from the CMD file so it does not rename. Then you have a %modtime% variable to throw around for any command for your environment. I have quite a few date/time mods on a command file. Add a couple "CD" commands to change your default directory... and you'll make it a quite convenient commandline experience. Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active Directory, Network Infrastructure, Application Platform, Windows 7 Microsoft Certified Product Specialist & Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Hi Steve, Thank you for the reply and code ! I had been working on similar but was not getting it right, I think I have only one '%' instead of 2... But I will give what you have provided a shot and report back... At the moment I've got a few meetings until about 2pm east coast usa time and won't be able to test this until afterwards ;( .... Thank you for your time and input, Donald

Here's one of my crazy "mad-hatter/white rabbit" time command files. @ECHO OFF TITLE Time for Tea!!! MODE CON: COLS=80 LINES=20 FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CDATE=%%B FOR /F "TOKENS=1,2 eol=/ DELIMS=/ " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET mm=%%B FOR /F "TOKENS=1,2 DELIMS=/ eol=/" %%A IN ('echo %CDATE%') DO SET dd=%%B FOR /F "TOKENS=2,3 DELIMS=/ " %%A IN ('echo %CDATE%') DO SET yyyy=%%B for /f "tokens=1* delims= " %%a in ('date/t') do set dayabbr=%%a for /f "tokens=1* delims= " %%a in ('date/t') do set mmddyyyy=%%a for /f "tokens=1* delims=/" %%a in ('echo %mmddyyyy%') do set today=%%a for /f "tokens=1 delims=: " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timehrs=%%a for /f "tokens=2 delims=: " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timemin=%%a for /f "tokens=3 delims=:. " %%a in ('echo %time%') do set timesec=%%a set modtime=%timehrs%:%timemin%:%timesec% set datenew=%yyyy%%mm%%dd% CLS IF "%mm%"=="01" SET mmname=January IF "%mm%"=="02" SET mmname=February IF "%mm%"=="03" SET mmname=March IF "%mm%"=="04" SET mmname=April IF "%mm%"=="05" SET mmname=May IF "%mm%"=="06" SET mmname=June IF "%mm%"=="07" SET mmname=July IF "%mm%"=="08" SET mmname=August IF "%mm%"=="09" SET mmname=September IF "%mm%"=="10" SET mmname=October IF "%mm%"=="11" SET mmname=November IF "%mm%"=="12" SET mmname=December CLS IF "%today%"=="Mon" SET day=Monday IF "%today%"=="Tue" SET day=Tuesday IF "%today%"=="Wed" SET day=Wednesday IF "%today%"=="Thu" SET day=Thursday IF "%today%"=="Fri" SET day=Friday IF "%today%"=="Sat" SET day=Saturday IF "%today%"=="Sun" SET day=Sunday CLS echo. Hello %username% from the %userdnsdomain% world! echo Day of the week: %day% - %dayabbr% echo The month is: %mm% echo The date is : %dd% echo The year is : %yyyy% echo The name of the month: %mmname% echo The current Time is %timehrs%:%timemin%:%timesec% cmd.exe /K Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active Directory, Network Infrastructure, Application Platform, Windows 7 Microsoft Certified Product Specialist & Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

You can post your query on Scripting Forum. Thanks

Hi Steve, Thanks again for the script snippet and the others too... the time function works great now in the rename of the filex, thank you very much! Best Regards, Donald