- Batch Script Tutorial
- Batch Script Resources
Prepare a batch file. Open Notepad and type the following commands in the file. Xcopy /s /i 'THE. Usually, to create a new batch file, you can either create a new text file and rename its extension every single time to.bat or.cmd, or you can use Notepad. Using Notepad, it is possible to save the entered text as a batch file by selecting the File - Save menu item and typing the filename with the bat extension in quotes. Jul 05, 2017 How to Add a Timeout or Pause in a Batch File Lowell Heddings @lowellheddings Updated July 5, 2017, 5:38pm EDT If you are writing a batch file and you don’t want to continue until somebody presses a key, you can do it really easy with the timeout command. Here, I am using Windows 10 to show the process of automatically running a batch file with Windows admin rights. However, the method works on older versions including Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1.
- Selected Reading
In this chapter, we will learn how to create, save, execute, and modify batch files.
Creating Batch Files
Batch files are normally created in notepad. Hence the simplest way is to open notepad and enter the commands required for the script. For this exercise, open notepad and enter the following statements.
Saving Batch Files
After your batch file is created, the next step is to save your batch file. Batch files have the extension of either .bat or .cmd. Some general rules to keep in mind when naming batch files −
- Try to avoid spaces when naming batch files, it sometime creates issues when they are called from other scripts.
- Don’t name them after common batch files which are available in the system such as ping.cmd.
CALL - Execute One Batch File From Within Another
The above screenshot shows how to save the batch file. When saving your batch file a few points to keep in mind.
- Remember to put the .bat or .cmd at the end of the file name.
- Choose the “Save as type” option as “All Files”.
- Put the entire file name in quotes “”.
Executing Batch Files
Following are the steps to execute a batch file −
- Step 1 − Open the command prompt (cmd.exe).
- Step 2 − Go to the location where the .bat or .cmd file is stored.
- Step 3 − Write the name of the file as shown in the following image and press the Enter button to execute the batch file.
Modifying Batch Files
Following are the steps for modifying an existing batch file.
- Step 1 − Open windows explorer.
- Step 2 − Go to the location where the .bat or .cmd file is stored.
- Step 3 − Right-click the file and choose the “Edit” option from the context menu. The file will open in Notepad for further editing.
Sometimes you need to pin a batch file to the Start menu or taskbar in Windows. Unfortunately, the operating system doesn't allow you to do it out of the box. 'Pin to Start' and 'Pin to taskbar' context menu commands are missing in the context menu of File Explorer in Windows 10. Here is a quick workaround which will allow you to achieve the goal.
When you right click a batch file, you will see that the context menu does not contain the commands 'Pin to Start' and 'Pin to taskbar':
As a workaround, you can create a shortcut with the following target:
When you right click a batch file, you will see that the context menu does not contain the commands 'Pin to Start' and 'Pin to taskbar':
As a workaround, you can create a shortcut with the following target:
This will execute the batch file and close the command prompt window. Double quotes are so that you can use long file names in the path.
If you use the following shortcut target:
If you use the following shortcut target:
Batch File Add Date To Filename
Then the command prompt will remain open after the batch file finishes running.
When you right click such a shortcut, it will include the context menu commands to pin to Taskbar or Start!
When you right click such a shortcut, it will include the context menu commands to pin to Taskbar or Start!
Here is what you need to do.
- Right click on the Desktop and select the command 'New -> Shortcut' from the context menu.
- In the shortcut target, type the following text:In my example, it will be
- Name the shortcut and change its icon if you need:
- Now, right click the shortcut and choose 'Pin to Start' from the context menu:
You are done. The result will be as follows:
That's it.