The match-one character matches any single character except the directory separator; it does not match the end of the string. Use it in the drive name and file name only; do not use it in a directory name. For example:

 

• Pattern ab? matches abc, but does not match ab, abab, abzzz
• Pattern ab?rs matches abfrs, but does not match abrs, abllrs
• Pattern ab?ef?rs matches abdefjrs, but does not match abefrs, abdefrs, abefjrs
• Pattern ab??rs matches abcdrs, abzzrs, but does not match abrs, abjrs, abkkkrs

The match-all character matches zero or more characters; it does not cross a directory boundary. Use it in the drive name and file name only; do not use it in a directory name. For example:

 

• Pattern ab* matches ab, abb, abxxx, but does not match a, b, aa, bb.
• Pattern ab*rs matches abrs, abtrs, abrsrs, but does not match ars, aabrs, abrss.
• Pattern ab*ef*rs matchesabefrs, abefghrs, but does not match abefr, abers
• Pattern abcd.* matches abcd.c, abcd.txt, but does not match abcd, abcdc, abcdtxt.

The directory separator character limits the scope of the search for the matching n characters and directories. If a pattern does not begin with a directory separator (or one does not follow the drive specification), a match-all directories is appended to the pattern. For example, these patterns are equivalent:

c:*
c:\...\*
			

The drive separator character separates a file specification. The characters before the colon identify a drive name. The characters after the colon identify either a directory name or a file name. For example:

   d:\direct\file.nam