SPACES IN DOS BAT FILE?

[JCROCCO]

I am trying to write a small .bat file to copy my critical files from one hard drive to another (as a way of backup) but cant get past the "no spaces" issue like in copy c:\program files\my documents j:\.

Also, is there a way to tell it to copy ALL including sub directories under my document, without having to write them all in the bat file?

Is there a simpler way or program to do this? Just dont want the expense of a mirrored drive, and controller (OR is that really the best way to go)

Thanks

 

[PrincessGuard]

Put the path in quotes to get around the spaces (e.g. "c:\program files\my documents").

As for copying subdirectories, look into XCOPY

 

[GilletteCat]

Use xcopy:


XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[ate]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
[/C] [/i] [/quote] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/u]
[/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z]
[/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
turns off the archive attribute.
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
Specifies a list of files containing strings. Each string
should be in a separate line in the files. When any of the
strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
copied, that file will be excluded from being copied. For
example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
.obj extension respectively.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/V Verifies each new file.
/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q Does not display file names while copying.
/F Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L Displays files that would be copied.
/G Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
not support encryption.
/H Copies hidden and system files also.
/R Overwrites read-only files.
/T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
empty directories and subdirectories.
/U Copies only files that already exist in destination.
/K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/N Copies using the generated short names.
/O Copies file ownership and ACL information.
/X Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/Z Copies networked files in restartable mode.


So, after specifying the source drive and the destination drive, you would need to use /S /R /H /Y . If you want to skip certain types of files, you would also use /EXCLUDE:/name of directory/ to skip a whole directory or *.types-of-files-to-skip to only skip some extensions, etc...
Good luck.

 

[JCROCCO]

Thank you, I will try, hope it works