dir command vis-a-vis hidden files

[ROD DAV4IS]

Does DIR normally display hidden files?

On my system it does, regardless of the setting in folder options. I have to use the /a-h option to stop that behavior.

This seems different from what I remember on my old XP system, and seems to contradict the explanation of the DIR command, which says to use the /ah option to display hidden files.

I tried to set the DIRCMD environment variable to negate this behavior and that works -- except that the application that I am trying to port to Vista uses the /a-d option, which cancels my DIRCMD setting.

Using Vista Home Premium w/SP2

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[Guest]

Type dir /? and look at the last paragraph

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Rod.

Are you using the DIR command in a Command Prompt window? Or in some other
way?

(I just tried from the Win7 GUI Desktop by clicking Start and typing "dir"
(no quotes) into the Search box and got a weird result: The first item that
popped up said, "Start Google Earth in Direct X mode", and when I pressed
Enter it popped up a box that said, "Google Earth will now start in 'DirectX
9 mode by default.", and gave me two options: Start Google Earth, or Exit.
As I said, that's WEIRD - but not what you are talking about, is it? That
seems a topic for another thread entirely!)

In a Command Prompt window, the Dir command should respect the Attributes
setting for each file and folder. As usual in a CP window, just type the
command followed by /? to see what I call a mini-Help file that lists the
switches and parameters available with that command. For Dir /?, the list
has not changed significantly in decades, so far as I can see. In MS-DOS,
Dir /a showed all files, no matter which Attributes were set - and it still
does in a Win7 Command Prompt window. (I know you know all that, but those
lurking "over our shoulders" might need reminders.)

The result of this command in the CP window does not depend on the settings
in the GUI's Control Panel | Folder Options | View.

I've never used the /a-d switch until just now. I see what you mean. In
the Root of my System Volume, dir shows 10 files and 6 Dirs. Dir /a-d shows
21 files and 0 Dirs. Dir /a shows 21 file and 10 Dirs. Attrib *.* lists
all the 21 files, but no Dirs.

This bears more investigation. I don't have time (or the inclination) to
track this down today, Rod, but I'll be watching this thread to see what I
can learn from what you learn.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

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