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Batch file ABCs
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BATCH FILE ABCs
Batch files are programs that allow MS-DOS
and Windows users to create a file to perform a long tasks fast.
Such as opening certain programs ran frequently, deleting or managing files, etc. Simple
batch files do not require any special programming skills and usually can be done by
knowing the below commands and or just DOS commands.
A prime example of
a batch file for someone whom may know more about Windows or MacOS would be relating a
batch file to a shortcut in Windows or icon on a MacOS. Batch files like a shortcuts
are small file which is used to run frequently accessed programs. Another
example of a very well known batch file is the autoexec.bat, which
is simply a boot file loaded each time the computer is loaded.
Within
this file contains various lines to load various programs and
drivers into memory each time the computer boots.
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CREATING
A BATCH FILE
To create a basic batch file first
open a MS-DOS command
prompt and follow the below instructions:
- At the MS-DOS prompt type edit test.bat and press
enter.
- If typed properly you should now be in a blue screen within
the blue screen type:
pause
dir c:\windows
dir c:\windows\system
- Once the above three lines have been typed in the blue
screen choose file and choose exit, when prompted to save
click yes
- Once you are back at the MS-DOS
prompt type test. When
enter is pressed, this should 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 directory.
If you wish to add more lines to this batch file you would
simply type "edit test.bat" to edit the file again. |
BATCH COMMANDS
Just like all MS-DOS commands when creating batch files
the lines are not case
sensitive. However, in the below listing we have listed all commands in all caps to help you
identify which text is a batch file command.
| @ |
Does not echo back the text after the at symbol. This is
most commonly used as @ECHO OFF to prevent any of the commands in the
batch file from being displayed just the information needed. |
| %1 |
The
percent followed by a numeric value, beginning with one, allows
users to add variables within a batch file. The following is a
batch file example:
echo Hello %1
When the above one line batch file is created and adding 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.
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| :LABEL |
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. |
| CALL |
This is 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. |
| CHOICE |
See running different programs for 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.
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| 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.
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| ECHO |
Will echo a message in the batch file. Such as
"ECHO
Hello World" will print Hello World on the screen when
executed. Note if you have
not typed @ECHO OFF at the beginning of the file this will
also print "ECHO Hello
World" and "Hello World". If you would just like to create a blank line type ECHO. adding
the period creates an empty line. |
| EXIT |
Exits out of the DOS window if the batch file is ran 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| PAUSE |
Prompt the user to press any key to continue. |
| REM |
Allows you to place comments into the batch file without
displaying or executing that line when the batch file is ran. |
| SHIFT |
Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch
program.
- Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our SHIFT
command page.
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| 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 finish
loading.
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BATCH FILE EXAMPLES
Running different programs
Deleting files in directory without prompt
How to start Windows 95 / 98 files from batch file
Creating a batch file delay
How to make time log
RUNNING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
The following is a simple 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 our 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 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 95 / 98
FILES FROM A BATCH FILE
To run files for Windows 95 or Windows 98 in a batch
file you would use the START command. The following example would run Windows Notepad.
START /M "C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE"
The /m representing it to start the window Maximized.
CREATING A BATCH FILE DELAY
The following 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 the following example you will have the capability of creating a time
log of when the batch file is loaded or for example in the autoexec.bat when someone logs
into a computer.
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
For the above batch file to work properly you must create a file called
log by typing "edit log" (without the quotes) and then
save an exit the file which will create the file at 0 bytes. If this file is not created
or not created properly you will receive the error message "Content of destination
lost before copy".
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