There are two global filename characters (sometimes called "wildcards") that
are recognized and acted upon by DOS.  They are not valid characters in a
filename but may be used to specify groups of similarly named files.  The
wildcards are particularly useful for the DIR command, but may be used
in other commands such as COPY, etc..

 ?  - A question mark "?" in a filename or filename extension indicates any
      name character may occupy that position.  If the name does not have a
      character at that position, a match is still made.

 *  - An asterisk "*" in a filename or filename extension indicates that any
      character or group of name characters may occupy that position.  If the
      name does not have any characters at that position, a match is still
      made.







The following page gives you some examples of the flexiblity provided by these
special characters.
  COMMAND             FILENAMES MATCHED                EXTENSIONS MATCHED

DIR ABC?D.*        all 5 letters in length          all from 0 to 3 letters
                   with first 3 letters ABC         in length
                   and last letter D

DIR AB?.??         all 2 or 3 letters in length     all from 0 to 2 letters
                   with first 2 letters AB          in length

DIR A*.E?          all 1 to 8 letters in length     all from 1 to 2 letters
                   with first letter A              in length starting with E

DIR *.E*           all 1 to 8 letters in length     all from 1 to 3 letters
                                                    in length starting with E
