Introduction to
Batch Files
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Overview
Will learn to create batch files
to automate a sequence of
commands to accomplish
various tasks.
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Overview
The use of batch file
subcommands will be
discussed and then used with
batch commands.
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Overview
How to halt the execution of a
batch file will be explained.
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Overview
Will write batch files using
replaceable parameters.
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Overview
Learn how batch files can be
used from the desktop.
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Concepts of Batch and
Interactive Processing
Batch file:
 String together series of commands
executed sequentially with one command
without human interaction or interruption
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Concepts of Batch and
Interactive Processing
Batch file:
 Must be an ASCII file
 Created with Edit, COPY CON, text editor,
or word processor which has “Save as text
file” option
 Has .BAT or .CMD extension
 Each line in batch file contains only one
command
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Concepts of Batch and
Interactive Processing
Why batch files used:
 Minimize keystrokes
 Automate frequent/consistent
procedures
 Do not need to interact with computer
while batch files are running
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Concepts of Batch and
Interactive Processing
Batch processing:
 Automate frequent/consistent
procedures
 Batch files can be run at anytime
No user/computer interaction required
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Concepts of Batch and
Interactive Processing
Interactive processing:
 Also called online or real time mode
 User interacts directly with computer
 Information processed without delay
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How Batch Files Work
The operating system determines
if a file is a data file or a program
file by its extension.
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How Batch Files Work
To locate file, operating system:
 Looks internally for command
 Using Extension Priority Rules,
searches on default drive and directory
 Searches search path as set in PATH
statement following Priority Rules
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How Batch Files Work
Table 10.1 Search Order for Extensions pp. 485-486
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How Batch Files Work
Priority rules are followed if
there are files on a disk with the
same file name but three
different file extensions.
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How Batch Files Work
If file not found, get error message:
“Filename is not recognized as an
internal or external command,
operable program, or batch file.”
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How Batch Files Work
 A batch file is a program.
 Each line in a batch file must
contain only one command.
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Using EDIT to Write
Batch Files
To write a batch file you must
use a program that creates
ASCII text files.
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Using EDIT to Write
Batch Files
If a file is readable with
the TYPE command,
it is an ASCII text file.
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Using EDIT to Write
Batch Files
Word-processing programs
can create text files if they
have a nondocument or text
mode.
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Using EDIT to Write
Batch Files
EDIT:
Simple text editor in Command
Prompt window
Used to write batch files.
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Using EDIT to Write
Batch Files
Notepad:
Window’s text editor
Used to write batch files
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Activity—Writing and
Executing a Batch File
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Create batch files with:
 EDIT - tool to write batch files
 Any text editor or word processor with
ASCII output
 Batch file extensions - .BAT or .CMD
 Execute the batch file the same ways as
you do any command
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Writing and Executing a
Batch File to Save Keystrokes
Batch files can save keystrokes.
Examples: DIR/AD
DIR/OS and DIR/O-S
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Writing and Executing a
Batch File to Save Keystrokes
Sometimes easier to use COPY CON
instead of EDIT to write simple batch file.
Syntax:
COPY CON filename
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Writing and Executing a
Batch File to Save Keystrokes
Drawbacks to using COPY CON:
 Cannot correct errors once
<Enter> is pressed
 Cannot correct errors in
existing files
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Writing and Executing a
Batch File to Save Keystrokes
 To correct errors need text editor
like EDIT.
 Nothing is faster than COPY CON.
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Activity—Writing & Executing
a One-Letter Batch File
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Pressing <F6> and <Enter> signals completion
 <Ctrl> +Z same as pressing <F6>
 Displaying file with TYPE indicates it is ASCII
file
 Create one-line batch files
 Directories have no size
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Using Batch Files to Alter Your
Command Line Environment
Open command line session by:
 Clicking icon on Start menu
 Clicking shortcut
Can be altered to run in customized way
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Activity - Creating a Batch
File to Alter the Command
Line Session Environment
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Created shortcut to open command line
session on desktop
Can decide what directory to be in
 With /k parameter - include batch file that
is executed each time command line
session opened
Value limited on floppy
Valuable on hard Chdrive
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Writing a Batch File to
Load Application Program
 To execute BOG game took three
steps.
 Create a batch file to simplify
loading an application program.
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Activity—Writing a Batch
File to Execute BOG Game
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Create batch files with:
 COPY CON
 Any text editor or word processor with
ASCII output (Example: Edit)
 Why no conflict between BOG.BAT
and BOG.EXE names
 How to execute command that requires
particular location
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Creating Shortcuts for
Batch Files on the Desktop
To run a batch file from Windows:
 Double-click file name in
Windows Explorer/My Computer
 Create shortcut for file and
place on desktop and click icon
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Creating Shortcuts for
Batch Files on the Desktop
Some things can be done with shortcut
that cannot do in the command line
interface.
 Click shortcut to execute batch
 Can change shortcut icon
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Activity—Creating a
Shortcut on the Desktop
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Clicking shortcut executes file
 Can change icon so it is more
distinctive
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Batch Files to Run
Windows Programs
Where Windows system files reside
will vary depending on installation
of Windows XP Professional.
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Batch Files to Run
Windows Programs
Windows “keeps notes” about itself in
system environment.
 Path stored in environmental variable
%Path%
 Drive referred to in environment as
%SystemDrive%
 Directory where system files are located
referred to as %SystemRoot%
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Batch Files to Run
Windows Programs
With Notepad:
 Can create batch file that allows you
to run program without returning to
desktop
 Can create log file that adds current
date and time to file created with
Notepad
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Activity—Creating a Batch
File to Run Notepad
KEY CONCEPTS:
 %SYSTEMROOT% (Environmental variable)
Windows knows where Windows files are
located and substitutes correct name
%% signs around name - OS substitutes value
for that variable.
 Opened Notepad without returning to
desktop
 Used Notepad to create log file (case
sensitive)
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Activity—Creating a Batch
File to Run Notepad
KEY CONCEPTS:
 START command:
 Can start a program in new window
while still executing batch program in
previous window
 If title following command is in quotes,
will give window that title
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Special Batch File Commands
Table 10.2 Batch File Commands pp.. 509-510
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Special Batch File Commands
Table 10.2 Batch File Commands pp.. 509-510
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The REM Command
REM command (remarks)
allows user to place comments
in file that are displayed
but not executed
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The REM Command
REM allows file to be documented:
 Gives explanation of the purpose of a
program
 Can include name of batch file, last
time it was updated, and author of
batch file
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Activity—Using REM
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Used Edit to write batch file
 Purpose of REM - provide explanatory
remarks about the batch file
 If line begins with REM - explanatory text
follows and no action taken
 No more lines in batch file -OS returns to
system level
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The ECHO Command
ECHO ON command:
 Displays command and the
command’s output to the screen
 Is the default value
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The ECHO Command
ECHO OFF command:
 Minimizes screen clutter
 User turns off display of command
then only see command’s output
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The ECHO Command
Table 10.3 ECHO ON or OFF p. 512
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Activity—Using ECHO
KEY CONCEPTS:
 ECHO
ON - see remarks and commands
 ECHO OFF - output displayed not actual
commands
 @ECHO OFF - @ suppresses display of
ECHO OFF
 Purpose of batch files defeated if
interaction required by user
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Activity—Using ECHO
Table 10.4 Echo On and ECHO Off: A Comparison of
Screen Displays p. 516
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The CLS Command
CLS command used to clear
screen when it becomes full
of no longer needed
information.
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Activity - Using CLS
KEY CONCEPTS:
After ECHO turned off screen
cleared
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The PAUSE Command
PAUSE command instructs the
batch file to stop executing
until the user takes some
action.
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Activity—Using Pause
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Batch file “paused” - stopped
executing until some action is taken
 Pause is not an order
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Stopping a Batch File
from Executing
To interrupt a batch file during
execution:
 Press <Ctrl> + C
 Press <Ctrl> + <Break>
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Stopping a Batch File
from Executing
Return to system prompt
when batch file interrupted.
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Activity—Quitting a
Batch File
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Results of Pressing <Ctrl> + C
 Because of speed of computer
difficult to ascertain how many lines
of batch file read when <Ctrl> + C
pressed
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
Can use fixed or variable
parameters with batch files.
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
Example of fixed parameter:
 DIR A: /W
Examples of variable parameter:
 TYPE THIS.FIL
 TYPE TEST.TXT
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
 Batch files can also use replaceable
parameters.
 Replaceable parameters also called
dummy, substitute or positional
parameters.
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
Can parse batch commands:
 Keying in additional information
on command line
 Dividing computer language into
parts that can be made useful to
computer
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
User supplies markers (place
holders) to let batch file know
that variable will be keyed in
with batch file name.
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
The place holder used in batch
files is the percent sign (%),
followed by a number (0-9).
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Replaceable Parameters
in Batch Files
 The % sign is a signal to the operating
system that a parameter is coming.
 The numbers (0-9) indicate what
position the parameter is on in the
command line.
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Activity—Using Replaceable
Parameters
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Data still on disk when file deleted
 To delete data overwrite file with new data
 Create generic or “plain wrap” batch file
 Supply specific parameter of file name of interest
 Supply place (“replaceable parameters”)for name of file
 View replaceable parameters as positional parameters
 % sign followed by number
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Multiple Replaceable
Parameters in Batch Files
Many commands used in
batch files may require
more than one parameter.
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Multiple Replaceable
Parameters in Batch File
Batch files can have up to 10
replaceable (positional)
parameters (%0-%9).
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Multiple Replaceable
Parameters in Batch Files
Example:
COPY MYFILE.TXT YOUR.FIL
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Activity—Using Multiple
Replaceable Parameters
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Within batch files parameters do not
have to be in order.
 Order used on command line
 %1 - refers to first position after
command not first item on command
line
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Activity—Using Multiple
Replaceable Parameters
Table 10.5 Positional Parameters p. 529
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Activity—Using Multiple
Replaceable Parameters
KEY CONCEPTS:
 Think of them as positional not replaceable
parameters
 Copy files selectively (all except ones
hidden)
 Do not use < > or | in batch files as OS
reads them as redirection or pipe symbols
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Activity—Using Multiple
Replaceable Parameters
NOCOPY CLASS\*.ABC TRIP CLASS
Rest of lines executed in order
 REM This batch file, NOCOPY.BAT, will
hide specified files,
 REM then copy all other files from one
location to another,
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Activity—Using Multiple
Replaceable Parameters
 REM then unhide the original files.
 ATTRIB +H CLASS\*.ABC
 COPY CLASS\*.* TRIP
 ATTRIB -H CLASS\*.ABC
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Creating Useful Batch Files
Can create commands that are
not provided with the
operating system.
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Activity—Writing Useful
Batch Files
KEY CONCEPTS:
Create batch file that will compare file
names in directories or on disks
Add @ECHO OFF at beginning of
batch file - see results of command not
REM statements
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Activity—Writing Useful
Batch Files
Examine each part of command line:
DIR /A-D /B /ON %1 > SOURCE.TMP
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