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 rmdir(CMD)                      19 June 1992                      rmdir(CMD)


 Name

    rmdir (rd) - delete move) a directory

 Syntax


    rmdir [drive:]path

    rd [drive:]path


 Description

    Before you can delete a directory, you must delete its files and sub-
    directories; the directory must be empty except for the ``.'' and ``..''
    symbols.

 Parameter


    [drive:]path  Specifies the location and name of the directory you want
                  to delete.


 Notes


    Cannot delete directory with hidden or system files

    You cannot delete a directory that contains files, including hidden or
    system files.  If you attempt to do so, MS-DOS displays the following
    message:

       Invalid path, not directory,
       or directory not empty


    Use the dir(CMD) command to list hidden and system files and the
    attrib(CMD) command to remove hidden and system attributes from files.
    For more information, see those commands.

    Using the backslash character with the path parameter

    If you insert a backslash (\) before the first directory name in path,
    MS-DOS treats the directory as a subdirectory of the root directory-
    regardless of your current directory.  If you do not insert a backslash
    before the first directory name in path, MS-DOS treats the directory as a
    subdirectory of the current directory.

    Deleting the current directory

    You cannot use rmdir to delete the current directory.  You must first
    change to a different directory (not a subdirectory of the current direc-
    tory) and then use rmdir with a path.  If you attempt to delete the
    current directory, MS-DOS displays a message in the following format:

       Attempt to remove current directory - drive:path

    MS-DOS also displays this message if you attempt to delete a directory
    that has been redirected by using the subst command.

 Example

    To delete a directory named \USER\SMITH, first ensure that the directory
    is empty, as in following example:

       dir \user\smith /a


    MS-DOS should display only the ``.'' and ``..'' symbols.

    Then, from any directory except \USER\SMITH, type the following command:

       rmdir \user\smith


 Related commands

    For information about creating a directory, see the mkdir(CMD) command.

    For information about hidden files, see the attrib(CMD) command and the
    dir(CMD) command (the /a switch).