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Batch File Help

Information on batch files

Quick links Batch file ABCs Creating a batch file Batch commands Batch file examples Technical support Debug Routines Batch file ABCs Batch files allow MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows users to create a lists of commands to run in sequence once the batch file has been executed. For example, a batch file could be used to run frequently run commands, deleting a series of files, moving files, etc. A simple batch file does not require any special programming skills and can be done by users who have a basic understanding of MS-DOS commands. A good example of a batch file for someone who is more familiar with Windows or the MacOS is to think of a batch file as a shortcut in Windows or an icon on the MacOS. Much like a shortcut, batch files could be used to run one or more commands or programs through the command line. Another example of a very well known batch file is the autoexec.bat, which is a boot batch file loaded each time the computer boots into MS-DOS and early versions of Windows. This batch file contained all the necessary commands and programs used to run MS-DOS and Windows each time the computer booted. Creating a batch file MS-DOS users Microsoft Windows and other users MS-DOS users To create a basic batch file in MS-DOS, follow the below steps that give you an example of how to create a basic batch file. 1. Open an MS-DOS command window or get to MS-DOS. 2. At the MS-DOS prompt, type: edit test.bat and press enter. 3. If typed properly, you should now be in a blue screen. Within the screen, type: pause
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Batch File Help

dir c:\windows dir c:\windows\system 4. Once the above three lines have been typed in, click File and choose exit; when prompted to save, click "Yes." Users who do not have a mouse cursor can accomplish this same task by pressing ALT+F to access the file menu, then pressing "X" to exit, and pressing enter to save changes. 5. Once you are back at the MS-DOS prompt, type: test and press enter. This will execute the test.bat file and begin running the file. Because the first line is pause, you will first be prompted to press a key. Once you press a key the batch file will run line-by-line; in this case, listing the files in the windows and windows\system directories. If you wish to add more lines to this batch file you would type "edit test.bat" to edit the file again. Additional information about the MS-DOS edit command can be found on our edit command page. Some versions of MS-DOS and bootable diskettes may not have the edit command; if this the case, you would either need to obtain the edit.com file to access this file or use the copy con command. Microsoft Windows and other users A Windows user can still use the above MS-DOS steps if they wish to create a batch file. If, however, you're more comfortable using Microsoft Windows or your operating system, you can use any text editor, such as Notepad or Wordpad, to create your batch files, as long as the file extension ends with .bat. In the below example we use the Windows notepad to create a batch file. 1. Click Start 2. Click Run 3. Type: notepad and press enter. 4. Once notepad is open, type the below lines in the file or copy and paste the below lines into notepad. @echo off echo Hello this a test batch file pause dir c:\windows

5. Click File and click Save; browse to where you want to save the file. For the file name, type "test.bat", and if your version of Windows has a "Save as type" option, choose "All files", otherwise it will save as a text file.
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Batch File Help

Once all of this has been done click the Save button and exit notepad. 6. Now, to run the batch file, double-click or run the file like any other program. Once the batch file has completed running it will close the window automatically. Batch commands Just like all MS-DOS commands, all batch file commands are not case sensitive. However, in the below listing we have listed all commands in all caps to help you identify what is a command and what is not.

@ %1

Does not echo back the text after the at symbol. This most often used as @ECHO OFF to prevent any of the commands in the batch file from being displayed, just the information needed. The percent followed by a numeric value, beginning with one, allows users to add variables within a batch file. The below line is an example of what can be used in a batch file. ECHO Hello %1 When the above one-line batch file is created, add your name after the batch file. For example, typing myname (being the name of the bat file) and then your name: myname bob would output: Hello bob Note: This can be extended to %2, %3, and so on.

::

One of two ways of adding remarks into the batch file without displaying or executing that line when the batch file is run. Unlike REM this line will not show regardless if ECHO off is in the batch file. By adding a colon in front of a word, such as LABEL, you create a category, more commonly known as a label. This allows you to skip to certain sections of a batch file such as the end of the batch file. Also see GOTO. This used to run another batch file within a batch file. When the batch file that is called is completed, the remainder of the original batch file is completed. Note if the batch file does not exist it will give an error message. See running different programs for an example of how to use this command. Additional information and the syntax of this command in each version of Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our CHOICE command page.

:LABEL

CALL

CHOICE

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Batch File Help

CLS

Just like the DOS command would clear your screen. Additional information and the syntax of this command in each version of Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our CLS command page.

ECHO

Will echo a message in the batch file. Such as ECHO Hello World will print Hello World on the screen when executed. However, without @ECHO OFF at the beginning of the batch file you'll also get "ECHO Hello World" and "Hello World." Finally, if you'd just like to create a blank line, type ECHO. adding the period at the end creates an empty line. Exits out of the DOS window if the batch file is running from Windows. Additional information and the syntax of this command in each version of Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our EXIT command page.

EXIT

GOTO LABEL

Used to go to a certain label, such as LABEL. An example of GOTO would be to GOTO END. For an example of this see running different programs. Additional information and the syntax of this command in each version of Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our GOTO command page.

IF

Used to check for a certain condition if the condition exists. If that condition exists it will perform that function. To see an example of this see running different programs. Additional information and the syntax of this command in each version of Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our IF command page.

PAUSE REM SHIFT

Prompt the user to press any key to continue. One of two ways of adding remarks into the batch file without displaying or executing that line when the batch file is run. Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program. Shift command help and syntax information.

START

Used for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 and above to start a windows application; such as START C:\WINDOW\CALC would run the Windows Calculator. Users running Windows 3.x need to utilize the WIN command. For example, WIN C:\Windows\CALC.EXE would run Windows and then Calculator after Windows has finished loading. Start command help and syntax information.

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Batch File Help

Batch file examples Running different programs How to start Windows files and programs from a batch file Creating a batch file delay How to make a time log Running different programs Below is an example of how you can implement the choice options into your batch files. Each line that is in red can be left out of the batch file. They have been included to help explain some of what the batch file means. Windows 2000 and Windows XP users will need to substitute the choice command with the set command; see the set command page for additional help and information with this command. @ECHO OFF REM - LABEL INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THE DOCUMENT. :BEGIN CLS REM - THE BELOW LINE GIVES THE USER 3 CHOICES (DEFINED AFTER /C:) CHOICE /N /C:123 /M "PICK A NUMBER (1, 2, or 3)"%1 REM - THE NEXT THREE LINES ARE DIRECTING USER DEPENDING UPON INPUT IF ERRORLEVEL ==3 GOTO THREE IF ERRORLEVEL ==2 GOTO TWO IF ERRORLEVEL ==1 GOTO ONE GOTO END :THREE ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED THREE GOTO END :TWO ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED TWO GOTO END :ONE ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED ONE :END How to start Windows files and other programs from a batch file To run Microsoft Windows programs or files use the START command. The below example would run Windows
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Batch File Help

Notepad. START /MAX NOTEPAD You can also specify the direct location of the file by typing the below command. START /MAX C:\Windows\NOTEPAD.EXE *Windows users who have a different directory (e.g. Windows 2000 users) would need to substitute WINNT or the name of their directory in place of Windows in the above example. The /m representing it to start the window Maximized. See the start command page for additional information about this command. Creating a batch file delay Below is an example of how to delay a batch file any where from 5 to 99 seconds. In the below example we illustrate a 5 second delay. Type NUL | CHOICE.COM /N /CY /TY,5 >NUL Additionally, you could use the sleep file found on our utility download section. How to make a time log in a batch file The below example demonstrates how to create a time log of when the batch file is loaded, or for example, this could be used in the autoexec.bat when someone logs into a computer that supports this file. ECHO. |TIME > TIME COPY LOG +TIME An alternate, slightly more complicated method that, to our knowledge, cannot be used in Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows ME would be the following: echo @prompt set date=$d$_set time=$t$h$h$h > {a}.bat %comspec% /e:2048 /c {a}.bat > {b}.bat for %%v in ({b}.bat del) do call %%v {?}.bat echo %date% %time% >> log Another alternative is: echo. |time |find "current" >> log
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Batch File Help

For the above batch file to work properly you must create a file called log, by typing edit log and then save and exit the file, creating a 0 bytes file. If this file is not created or not created properly you will receive the error message Content of destination lost before copy. Technical support Reference MS-DOS CH000010 CH000036 CH000209 CH000319 CH000320 CH000321 CH000322 CH000323 CH000435 CH000540 CH000570 CH000738 CH000754 CH000785 CH000932 CH000987 CH001041 CH001049 CH001050 CH001102
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Questions Additional questions and answers on MS-DOS. Deleting files in MS-DOS without a prompt. How to execute commands in a batch file in timed intervals. Information about long file names. Creating a blank line in a batch file. How to exit a Windows MS-DOS window through a batch file. How to shut down and restart the computer with a batch file. How to run a batch file each time the computer boots. How to replace the file extensions of several files. How to make a bat executable? How to change the title of a MS-DOS Window. Additional information and options for the rundll32.exe file. Preventing a MS-DOS window from automatically closing in Windows. Deleting files equal to 0 in a batch file. How can I run a batch file at a specific time? How can I run a batch file or other file minimized? How can I make a batch file rename a file to the date or time? How can I play a sound file from a Windows batch file? How can I run a batch file in full screen? How can I loop or start a batch file over after it has completed? Searching for a string of text in a MS-DOS batch file.
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CH001313 CH001345 Forum

Hide REM lines from showing in a batch file. How can I start an exe in a batch file? If your question is not listed on this page, try our online forum.

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