replace(CMD) 19 June 1992 replace(CMD) Name replace - replace files in the destination directory with files in the source directory Syntax replace [drive1:][path1]filename [drive2:][path2] [/a] [/p] [/r] [/w] replace [drive1:][path1]filename [drive2:][path2] [/p] [/r] [/s] [/w] [/u] Description replace replaces files in the destination directory with files in the source directory that have the same name. You can also use replace to add unique filenames to the destination directory. Parameters [drive1:][path1]filename Specifies the location and name of the source file or set of files. [drive2:][path2] Specifies the location of the destination file. You cannot specify a filename for files you replace. If you specify neither a drive nor a directory, replace uses the current drive and directory as the destination. Switches /a Adds new files to the destination directory instead of replacing existing files. You cannot use this switch with the /s or /u switch. /p Prompts you for confirmation before replacing a destination file or adding a source file. /r Replaces read-only files as well as unprotected files. If you do not specify this switch but attempt to replace a read-only file, an error results and stops the replacement operation. /s Searches all subdirectories of the destination directory and replaces matching files. You cannot use the /s switch with the /a switch. The replace command does not search subdirectories speci- fied in path1. /w Waits for you to insert a disk before replace begins to search for source files. If you do not specify /w, replace begins replacing or adding files immediately after you press Enter. /u Replaces (updates) only those files on the destination directory that are older than those in the source directory. You cannot use the /u switch with the /a switch. Notes replace messages As replace adds or replaces files, MS-DOS displays their filenames on the screen. After the replace command is finished, MS-DOS displays a summary line in one of the following formats: nnn files added nnn files replaced no file added no file replaced Replacing files on a floppy disk system If you have a floppy disk system and need to switch disks during the replace operation, you can specify the /w switch so that replace will wait for you to switch disks, as necessary. Limitations on replace You cannot use the replace command to update hidden files or system files such as IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS. For information about changing hidden and system attributes, see the attrib(CMD) command. replace exit codes The following list shows each exit code and a brief description of its meaning: 0 replace successfully replaced or added the files. 2 replace could not find the source files. 3 replace could not find the source or destination path. 5 The user does not have access to the files you want to replace. 8 There is insufficient system memory to carry out the command. 11 The user used the wrong syntax on the command line. You can use the errorlevel parameter on the if command line in a batch program to process exit codes returned by replace. For an example of a batch program that processes exit codes, see the backup(CMD) command. Examples Suppose that several directories on drive C contain different versions of a file named PHONES.CLI, which contains client names and phone numbers. To replace all of these files with the latest version of the PHONES.CLI file from the disk in drive A, type the following command: replace a:\phones.cli c:\ /s Suppose you want to add new printer device drivers to a directory on drive C named TOOLS, which already contains several printer device-driver files for a word processor. To do this, type the following command: replace a:*.prd c:\tools /a This command searches the current directory on drive A for any files that have the extension .PRD and then adds these files to the TOOLS directory on drive C. Because the /a switch is included, replace adds only those files from drive A that do not exist on drive C. Related command For information about changing file attributes, see the attrib(CMD) com- mand.