Renaming file with Batch variable

Question

I have the following code:

set DATE=%date% 
echo %DATE% 
set DAY=%DATE:~0,2% 
echo %DAY% 
rename file09.txt file%DAY%09.txt
pause

It is supposed to rename a text file and put the day of the month in the file name. I am however getting a syntax error on the rename command.

I think the problem is in inserting the variable into the file name. Any help would be appreciated. The echos are just in the program for my own reference.

Solution 1

As has already been stated - your code as pasted had trailing spaces on many lines and the spaces often matter. I posted this because you had reused the system DATE variable name and that causes issues, and to show you that quotes are often helpful - and needed with long filenames.

set "D=%date%"
echo "%D%"
set "DAY=%D:~0,2%"
echo "%DAY%"
rename "file09.txt" "file%DAY%09.txt"
pause

Solution 2

you might have trailing spaces in the set command. Just try this:

set "DAY=%DATE:~0,2%"

btw. with set DATE=%date% you doesn't create a new variable. Variables must have case insensitive unique Names.