CODEWITHSUNDEEP
if-statementdos
RapidFireArts
RapidFireArts

Reputation: 83

IF EXIST outputs true on non-existent file

IF EXIST %PROGRAMFILES%\Winamp\paths.ini ( REM do stuff )

This file (and the folder) DOESN'T exist but it outputs true.

The script is on "K:\" and eventually got started with another file (%1) which as far as i know changes the start directory.

I have no clue why this doesn't work.

Also i tried to navigate to %PROGRAMFILES% and check the existance of \Winamp\ but for some reason it stays at it's home directory (or the one of %1).

Upvotes: 0

Views: 38

Answers (1)

Marc B
Marc B

Reputation: 360662

You probably need quotes around the path, because %PROGRAMFILES% is going to expand to C:\Program Files

IF EXIST "%PROGRAM%FILES%\Winamp\paths.ini%"

e.g. Without quotes, note how it shows "file not found" TWICE:

C:\Users\marc>dir %PROGRAMFILES%
 Volume in drive C is Windows7_OS
 Volume Serial Number is 0E31-0E35

 Directory of C:\

File Not Found

 Directory of C:\Users\marc

File Not Found

because it was interpreted as

dir C:\Program Files

which executes as

dir C:\Program
dir Files

With quotes, it works:

C:\Users\marc>dir "%PROGRAMFILES%"
 Volume in drive C is Windows7_OS
 Volume Serial Number is 0E31-0E35

 Directory of C:\Program Files

18/07/2014  04:02 PM    <DIR>          .
18/07/2014  04:02 PM    <DIR>          ..

Upvotes: 1

Related Questions