Batch

Is about a script programming language used in Windows.

Syntax

Command	Content
cd X	Move to folder X
REM or ::	Comments / Remarks
echo	Write to console
@echo off	Don't write script content to console
a & b	Do a and b commands in parallel
a && b	Do a and b commands in serial
echo^ test	After ^, one can continue the command in a new line but add a space!

Variables

• Environment variables
  • set message=Hello World to set a variable
    • Caution, things like " shouldn't be used and are significant
    • But maybe you need to have it when you use the variable, like directories path
  • echo %message% to view a variable
• Local variables:

REM to define variables to be local:
setlocal
REM to add something to PATH
set PATH=%PATH%;c:\whatever\else

Environment Variables	Content
%COMPUTERNAME%	Computer name
%~dp0	Current directory of the .bat launched

Loops

if var1 == var (
    echo do something
) else (
    echo do else
)

Files & Folder

• Folder
  • Create mkdir
• Files & folder
  • Rename REN or rename
  • Use a drag-n-dropped file in a batch: "%~1"
  • Shortcut to start a command line in the current directory: create a bat file containing @cmd
• Variables stored into a file
  • Save echo %var%>filename
  • Load set /p var=<filename
• Test if something exists
  • File if exist filename (...)
  • Folder if exist folder\ (...)

Executables

There's several ways to launch an app: * start * start NAME.exe * start "" "NAME WITH SPACE.exe" - the 1st "" is for window title * call * Great when calling other .cmd, otherwise the execution flow is transferred (source) * Otherwise will break other commands, like pause

Somewhat related: if you want to pass a command in a LNK shortcut to the command line, use cmd.exe /k yourcommand

Check that a process is running

tasklist /fi "ImageName eq MyApp.exe" /fo csv 2>NUL | find /I "myapp.exe">NUL
if "%ERRORLEVEL%"=="0" echo Program is running
if "%ERRORLEVEL%"=="1" echo Program isn't running