Replace (command)

replace
The ReactOS replace command
Developers	Microsoft, IBM, Digital Research, Paragon Technology, Rene Ableidinger, ReactOS Contributors
Initial release	1986, 39–40 years ago
Operating system	MS-DOS, PC DOS, SISNE plus, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows, DR DOS, PTS-DOS, FreeDOS, ReactOS
Platform	Cross-platform
Type	Command
License	MS-DOS, PC DOS, SISNE plus, OS/2, Windows, DR DOS, PTS-DOS: Proprietary commercial software FreeDOS, ReactOS: GPLv2
Website	docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/replace

In computing, replace is a command that is used to replace one or more existing computer files or add new files to a target directory. Files with a hidden or system attribute set cannot be replaced using replace. The command lists all files that are replaced.¹

The replace command first appeared in MS-DOS 3.2² and has been included in most versions of MS-DOS and compatibles such as FreeDOS³ and PTS-DOS.⁴ DR DOS 6.0 includes an implementation of the replace command.⁵ The FreeDOS version was developed by Rene Ableidinger and is licensed under the GPL.⁶ It is also included as a console command in IBM OS/2,⁷ Microsoft Windows,⁸ and ReactOS. The ReactOS version was developed by Samuel Erdtman and is licensed under the GPL.⁹

The following command updates the files in C:\delivery\ with the .exe files from C:\source\

C:\>replace "C:\source\*.exe" C:\delivery