What is the syntax for wildcard in path and file names?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I am interested to learn the syntax for path and file names when I want to use a wildcard symbol.

I understand that ? means any single character and that * means any string of characters. But how do I actually use ? and * ? I would be grateful if someone could answer the following questions.

Can I just say [b]*\*.ini[/b] to mean ANY FILE ENDING IN "INI" IN ANY PATH ON ANY DRIVE or do I need to qualify the drive like this [b]D:\*\*.ini[/b]
Can I use [b]*[/b] to mean ANY PATH WITH ANY NUMBER OF FOLDERS ? For example: if I want to define all files called file001.vko such as [b]C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\EPSON\Smart Panel\file001.vko[/b] then can I use [b]*\file001.vks[/b]
If I want to represent this [b]C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\EPSON\Smart Panel\*.*[/b] then can I use [b]*\Smart panel\*[/b]
If I want to refer to any filename with any extension then do I use just [b]*[/b] or do I need to use [b]*.*[/b]
Maybe the last question should ask about should be [b]\*[/b] or [b]*.*[/b]. Is this question's syntax correct and the last question's syntax incorrect?

Thank you for any help! :slight_smile:

Regards,
Smolls.

2

Any ini file: *.ini

  • could be used for any number of folders.
    You can use before or after, I mean, *\Smart panel* is ok.
    any file with extension: .
    any file extensionless included: *
3

I think that is it wrong. At least command running from the root of my system drive
dir *\system32*
gives error
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

4

dir syntax has nothing to do with the avast exclusion list.
avast uses a text string to exclude paths: * means any number of characters.