Windows Err Msg: File Already Exists. Overwrite? (File Mgr)

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q81347
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you try to rename or copy files from Microsoft Windows File Manager, and you use a wild card as the extension (for example, XXX.*), the following error message is displayed: 

   File already Exists.  Overwrite?

WORKAROUND

Rename or copy the files from MS-DOS.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows versions 3.0 and 3.0a. This problem was corrected and does not occur in later Windows versions.

MORE INFORMATION

Renaming or copying a specified file or group of files with a wild card extension, while changing the base or prefix name, should be possible in Windows 3.0. For example, if a specified source file is indicated as "XXX.*" (without the quotation marks) and the destination file is specified as "YYY.*" (without the quotation marks), every file that begins with XXX should be changed or copied to a filename with a YYY base or prefix. However, in File Manager, this only works if the destination base name (prefix) is one character long (for example, Y.*).

This procedure works if executed from MS-DOS, but File Manager cannot complete the procedure properly.

KBCategory: kbusage kberrmsg kbtool
KBSubcategory: win30
Additional reference words: 3.00 winfile filemanager wildcard 3.00a
winfile.exe

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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