| DEL (Erase) |
|
| Deletes the files you specify. |
|
| Syntax |
|
| DEL [drive:][path]filename [/P] |
|
| ERASE [drive:][path]filename [/P] |
|
| Parameter |
|
| [drive:][path]filename |
| Specifies the location and name of the file or set of files you want to |
| delete. |
|
| Switch |
|
| /P |
| Prompts you for confirmation before deleting the specified file. |
|
| Related Commands |
|
| For information about retrieving a deleted file, see the UNDELETE |
| command. |
|
| For information about removing a directory, see the RMDIR command. |
|
| For information about deleting a directory, its files, and all |
| subdirectories and files subordinate to it, see the DELTREE command. |
|
|
| DEL--Notes |
|
| Using the /P switch |
|
| If you use the /P switch, DEL displays the name of a file and prompts you |
| with a message in the following format: |
|
| filename, Delete (Y/N)? |
|
| Press Y to confirm the deletion, N to cancel the deletion and display the |
| next filename (if you specified a group of files), or CRTL+C to stop the DEL |
| command. |
|
| Deleting more than one file at a time |
|
| You can delete all the files in a directory by typing the DEL command |
| followed by [drive:]path. You can also use wildcards (* and ?) to delete |
| more than one file at a time. However, you should use wildcards cautiously |
| with the DEL command to avoid deleting files unintentionally. Suppose you |
| type the following command: |
|
| del *.* |
|
| DEL displays the following prompt: |
|
| All files in directory will be deleted! Are you sure (Y/N)? |
|
| Press Y and then ENTER to delete all files in the current directory, or |
| press N and then ENTER to cancel the deletion. |
|
| Before you use wildcards with the DEL command to delete a group of files, |
| you can use the same wildcards with the DIR command to see a list of the |
| names of all the files included in the group. |
|
| CAUTION: Once you delete a file from your disk, you may not be able to |
| retrieve it. Although the UNDELETE command can retrieve deleted |
| files, it can do so with certainty only if no other files have |
| been created or changed on the disk. If you accidentally delete a |
| file that you want to keep, stop what you are doing and |
| immediately use the UNDELETE command to retrieve the file. |
|
| For more information on undeleting files, see the chapter |
| "Managing Your System" in the MS-DOS 6 User's Guide. |
|
|
| DEL--Examples |
|
| To delete the CAT.TMP file from the TEST directory on drive C, you can use |
| either of the following commands: |
|
| del c:\test\cat.tmp |
|
| erase c:\test\cat.tmp |
|
| To delete all the files in a directory named TEST on drive C, you can use |
| either of the following commands: |
|
| del c:\test |
|
| del c:\test\*.* |
|
|
