I used an example you used before, and got the following.

DirEx "i:\\apps\\oracle\\backup1\\prdoid01\\prdoid01_2005-09-27*.zip", file_name
messagebox file_name

This message box shows up and the "*" is missing from the string using this method.

That indicates that you have got i:\apps\oracle\backup1\prdoid01\prdoid01_2005-09-27.zip file in the referenced directory!

: I used an example you used before, and got the following.

: DirEx
: "i:\\apps\\oracle\\backup1\\prdoid01\\prdoid01_2005-09-27*.zip",
: file_name
: messagebox file_name

: This message box shows up and the "*" is missing from the string
: using this method.