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**RENAME(**//file//,//new file//**)**

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| **RENAME** | Renames a FILE. |
| //file// | The label of a FILE to rename, or a string constant or variable containing a file specification. |
| //new file// | A string constant or variable containing a file specification. If the file specification does not contain a drive and path, the current drive and directory are assumed. If only the path is specified, the filename and extension of the original //file// are used for the //new file//. Files cannot be renamed to a new drive. |

The **RENAME** statement changes the //file// specification to the specification for the //new file// in the directory. The //file// to rename must be closed, or the "File Already Open" error is posted. If the file specification of the //new file// is identical to the original //file//, the RENAME statement is ignored. If any error is posted, the file is not renamed.

Since some file drivers use multiple physical disk files for one logical FILE structure, the default filename and extension assumptions are dependent on the file driver.

**Errors Posted:**

| 02 | File Not Found |
| 03 | Path Not Found |
| 05 | Access Denied |
| 52 | File Already Open |

**Example:**

**RENAME(Text,'text.bak')                      !Make it the backup**

**RENAME(Master,'\newdir')                     !Move it to another directory**

**RENAME('C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT','C:\AUTOEXEC.SAV')  !Make it the backup**

**See Also:**

[[close  close a data structure .htm|CLOSE]]